Cervical Cancer: A Preventable Yet Persistently Deadly Global Health Burden

 

Cervical cancer remains one of the most significant yet preventable causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Despite the availability of highly effective preventive measures—including prophylactic HPV vaccination, routine cytological and HPV-based screening, and timely treatment of precancerous lesions—the disease continues to disproportionately affect women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where nearly 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur. This persistent burden underscores a critical global health paradox: a cancer that is almost entirely preventable through well-established medical interventions remains responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year.

Multiple intersecting factors contribute to this ongoing public health challenge. Structural barriers, such as weak health systems, inadequate screening infrastructure, and limited availability of HPV vaccines, hinder large-scale implementation of preventive programs. Socioeconomic determinants—including poverty, low education levels, gender inequities, and rural residence—limit women’s access to timely screening and early treatment. Cultural beliefs, stigma surrounding gynecological examinations, and limited awareness of HPV’s role in cervical carcinogenesis further discourage participation in preventive services. Moreover, health workforce shortages, inconsistent national policies, and fragmented surveillance systems impede early detection and hinder effective follow-up and management of precancerous lesions.

These challenges collectively reveal a substantial gap between global evidence-based guidelines and their real-world application, resulting in late-stage diagnoses and poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the central problem addressed in this study is the persistent high burden of cervical cancer in contexts where prevention is feasible, affordable, and clinically validated but remains underutilized. The problem demands a comprehensive examination of the structural, behavioral, and policy-related barriers that inhibit the uptake and effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention strategies. Understanding these barriers is essential for designing context-specific, equitable, and sustainable interventions capable of reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality and advancing global commitments toward the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination agenda.