Cervical Cancer Incidence and Trends in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya (2010 to 2014)

Abstract

Background: Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, and the seventh overall, with an estimated 528,000 new cases (GLOBOCAN 2012). Cervical cancer is currently the most common cancer among women of Uasin Gishu County. Eldoret Cancer Registry (ECR) is a population based registry that collects cases diagnosed in Uasin Gishu County whose population is 894,179; 50% male and 50% female (2009 National Census). Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and trends of cervical cancer in Uasin Gishu for a 5 year period based on ECR data. Methods: Cancer registrars undertook case finding and abstraction in health facilities in Uasin Gishu. Confirmed malignant tumors were abstracted on to the Case Registration Form. Coding was done using ICD-O-3. CanReg5 was used for data entry, quality checks and data management. Data analyzed was for all women between the ages of 15-80 years. Results: A total of 2539 cancer cases were registered for the period 2010-2014 comprising of 1144 male and 1395 female. Cancer of the cervix was the most common cancer in female with 265 cases; 19.3% of all female cancers. ASR was 24.8 per 100,000. The most affected age group was 30-54 years. Stage I cases were 9%, stage II had 10%, stage III had 21%, stage IV 5% and unknown stage was 54%. There was high incidence observed in 2011 as compare with other years. 242 cases were histologic diagnosis, 10 cytology, 10 clinical investigation, death certificate only were 3 cases. Conclusion: Cervical cancer incidence was very high among women of Uasin Gishu County. Notably, most of the cases have unknown stage which may be associated with the fact that most patients are diagnosed within the county and may go for treatment elsewhere, or some go for traditional treatment in the villages after diagnosis and others may not come back for treatment after diagnosis due to cultural beliefs.