| dc.description.abstract |
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality among women in Kenya due to late
presentations, poor access to health care, and limited resources. Across many low- and middle-income countries
infrastructure and human resources for cervical cancer management are currently insufficient to meet the high
population needs therefore patients are not able to get appropriate treatment.
Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and the treatment profiles of
cervical cancer cases seen at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH)
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at MTRH involving the review of the electronic
database and medical charts of 1541 patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer be-
tween January 2012 and December 2021.
Results: Of the 1541 cases analyzed, 91% were squamous cell carcinomas, 8% were adenocarcinomas, and 1%
were other histological types. Thirty-eight percent of the patients were HIV infected and less than 30% of the
women had health insurance. A majority (75%) of the patients presented with advanced-stage disease (stage IIB-
IV). Only 13.9% received chemoradiotherapy with curative intent; of which 33.8% received suboptimal treat-
ment. Of the 13% who received surgical treatment, 45.3% required adjuvant therapy, of which only 27.5%
received treatment. Over 40% of the women were lost to follow-up.
Conclusion: Most of the patients with cervical cancer in Kenya present at advanced stages with only a third
receiving the necessary treatment while the majority receive only palliative treatment or supportive care. |
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