Addressing global disparities in cervical cancer burden: a narrative review of emerging strategies
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Purpose of Review: Cervical cancer burden is disproportionately higher in low to middle income countries, especially in countries with a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden. This review investigates barriers to implementation and assesses current progress in cervical cancer screening in lower resource settings by reviewing technologies and strategies that have already been implemented in low to middle income countries. Recent Findings: Several novel innovations embrace the recent World Health Organization (WHO) update to screening guidelines that recommends a “screen and treat” approach rather than a “screen, triage and treat” approach. Innovations include human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, portable cervical visualization devices, and creative large-scale approaches to increase screening accessibility. Summary: Overall, a low-cost, accurate, point-of-care screening test could alleviate most of the barriers associated with cervical cancer screening in lower resource settings. Further research into the development of a low-cost HPV test in conjunction with the HPV vaccine and other screening tools could expedite progress.
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Our findings align with global evidence suggesting self-sampling reduces logistical burdens in rural areas.
“While specific comprehensive follow-up data between self-sampling and nurse-assisted methods were not segregated, our findings align with global evidence suggesting self-sampling reduces logistical burdens in rural areas.26,28,29”
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“One model suggests that if the HPV vaccine is given to over 90% of the eligible population in com - bination with high screening coverage, cervical cancer could be eliminated by the end of the century [ 66 ].”
The IARC Perspective on Cervical Cancer Screening
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Rao, S., Chhabra, M., Kudkuli, J., Toraskar, M., Nath, A. G., Prakash, D., Srivastava, S., Imo Singh, W., Chandrasekharan, M., Oswal, K., et al. (2026) · AJOG Global Reports · doi:10.1016/j.xagr.2026.100678
- Authors
- Gopalkrishnan, K., & Karim, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Southern California (US)
- Corresponding author
- Karim, Roksana
- ORCID
- Karim, Roksana
- Venue
- Current HIV/AIDS Reports
- Published
- 2025-02-21
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 18-18
- ISSN
- 1548-3568 (ISSN-L)
- 1548-3576
- PMC
- PMC11842523
- OpenAlex
- W4407774481
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 10
- FWCI
- 3.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Current HIV/AIDS Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Southern California
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Keywords
- cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, low- and middle-income countries, HIV, HPV self-sampling, point-of-care testing, screen-and-treat, HPV vaccine, global health disparities
- MeSH terms
- Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Developing Countries, Female, Humans, Mass Screening, Global Health, HIV Infections, Papillomavirus Infections, Papillomavirus Vaccines, Healthcare Disparities, Early Detection of Cancer
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