DYNAMICS OF CERVICAL CANCER INCIDENCE RATE AND LEVELS OF AWARENESS ABOUT ITS PREVENTION AMONG DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS

Abstract

Purpose. Determine the features of long-term dynamics of invasive and preinvasive cervical cancer (CC) in Gomel region over 1990-2010 and to determine the level of awareness about CC prevention in different population groups. Material and methods. Retrospective epidemiological analysis, method of questioning and statistical information processing were applied. The results. It was found out that there is positive tendency of manifestations of the CC epidemic process in Gomel region in comparison with the national indices whereas the long-term levels of the CC incidence and mortality rates in Gomel region were higher that average ones. The study revealed a low level of knowledge about CC and its prevention among different population groups. Conclusions. It was calculated that the introduction of the diagnosis of human papillomaviruses (HPV) by PCR in Gomel region since 2002 led to twice intense preinvasive CC detection and more frequent diagnosis of invasive CC stage I than in Belarus in general. The study shows the limiting role of the low awareness of CC in the implementation of preventive measures.