Cervical Cancer Mortality Rates and the Dialectics of International Humanitarian Intervention with a focus on Nigeria

Scientific Essay from the year 2016 in the subject Biology - Diseases, Health, Nutrition, , language: English, abstract: The prevalence of cervical cancer and mortality rates has continued over the years despite several international and local efforts to reduce it in developing countries particularly sub-Saharan Africa which have the highest prevalence rates globally. This dissertation appraised the factors responsible for cervical cancer prevalence and assayed the efficacy of these interventions with particular focus on Nigeria by identifying the risk factors causing its spread and recommending prevention strategies for best options in reducing rates of cervical cancer in Nigeria. A systematic literature approach was used for the review of studies. This was carried out through database search on the prevalence, risk, mortality, factors and intervention for cervical cancer in developing countries with a narrative analysis to explanation for the local, national and international interventions. The findings revealed that lack of a national policy on cervical cancer on awareness, treatment, prevention and control, limit intervention efforts. Furthermore, massive overlaps in the international intervention programme, paucity of data on the analysis of impact and efficacy of these interventions, including unavailability of vaccine for high risk HPV stymie efforts for the reduction of cervical cancer in Nigeria. It was further established that the lack of a national policy on cervical cancer in Nigeria limit ongoing strategies for its mitigation. A national policy should be implemented for the intervention of cervical cancer to include measures for cervical cancer care as well as improving on current efforts on awareness, screening, prevention, treatment, and control especially in health care workers and local communities. Improvement be made in quality health care systems in terms of medical staff, screening machines and centers and the introduction of high risk vaccine for HPV serotype prevalent in Nigeria.