IMPLICATIONS OF THE LACK OF CANCER SCREENING SERVICES ON WOMEN AND THEIR HEALTH IN MALAWI
Introduction
Vulnerable communities such as women, ethnic minorities, the disabled, marginalized groups and children are at an increased risk of dying from the cancers than the general population (Jimenez et al., 2011). Globally, being a woman is considered as a predictor to develop many forms of cancers (Dorgan et al., 2014). For example, it is reported that despite the mortality being higher in men than women globally, women present with advanced forms of cancers than their counterparts at the time of diagnosis (Wang et al., 2014). Current statistics indicate that this is true and worse in the most resource-constrained countries in Asia and Africa where the screening programs are limited or unavailable (Ather, 2014).
Globally, cancers of the breasts, lungs, cervix and colon are the commonest in women of all age groups (Jimenez …show more content…
According to WHO, an estimated 5000 new cases of cancer are reported annually in Malawi (WHO, 2014). It is reported that Kaposi’s sarcoma, cancer of the cervix and breast cancer are the commonest cancers among women in Malawi contributing to 65% of all cancers (Kendig et al., 2013). Furthermore, WHO puts Malawi among the list of the countries with the highest mortality due to cervical cancers estimated at 49.8% (Katz, 2013).
Some of the screening methods available for cancers among women in Malawi are the pap smears, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), mammography and biopsies (Kendig et al., 2014). However, these services are only available in private hospitals in the Southern Region, serving the entire population of Malawi (Ports et al., 2014). Some few districts have been implementing VIA with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) but at a very low scale (Fort et al.,
Introduction
Vulnerable communities such as women, ethnic minorities, the disabled, marginalized groups and children are at an increased risk of dying from the cancers than the general population (Jimenez et al., 2011). Globally, being a woman is considered as a predictor to develop many forms of cancers (Dorgan et al., 2014). For example, it is reported that despite the mortality being higher in men than women globally, women present with advanced forms of cancers than their counterparts at the time of diagnosis (Wang et al., 2014). Current statistics indicate that this is true and worse in the most resource-constrained countries in Asia and Africa where the screening programs are limited or unavailable (Ather, 2014).
Globally, cancers of the breasts, lungs, cervix and colon are the commonest in women of all age groups (Jimenez …show more content…
According to WHO, an estimated 5000 new cases of cancer are reported annually in Malawi (WHO, 2014). It is reported that Kaposi’s sarcoma, cancer of the cervix and breast cancer are the commonest cancers among women in Malawi contributing to 65% of all cancers (Kendig et al., 2013). Furthermore, WHO puts Malawi among the list of the countries with the highest mortality due to cervical cancers estimated at 49.8% (Katz, 2013).
Some of the screening methods available for cancers among women in Malawi are the pap smears, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), mammography and biopsies (Kendig et al., 2014). However, these services are only available in private hospitals in the Southern Region, serving the entire population of Malawi (Ports et al., 2014). Some few districts have been implementing VIA with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) but at a very low scale (Fort et al.,