The Open Women's Health Journal

2012, 6 : 1-5
Published online 2012 January 18. DOI: 10.2174/1874291201206010001
Publisher ID: TOWHJ-6-1

Cervical Cancer Prevention in Saudi Arabia: It is Time to Call for Action

Khalid Sait , James Bentley , Nisrin Anfinan and Patti Power
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital Jeddah 21589, PO Box 80215 Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

Background:

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, with 2.3 million prevalent cases and 510,000 incident cases documented each year. Annually, 288,000 women die of cervical cancer, and 80% of these deaths occur in developing countries. The population of Saudi Arabia is young and growing at an increasing rate. The estimated number of new cases of cervical cancer in 2025 is 309. Lake of comprehensive

Objectives:

One aim of this review is to understand the current status of cervical cancer in Saudi Arabia. Based on this information, another aim is to formulate recommendations for cervical cancer prevention that can be applied in our local setting.

Methods:

An English literature search was conducted using the Pub Med data base between January 2000 till June 2011 , which aimed to review all the publication which was done regarding cancer cervix and cervical dysplasia in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Suggestions and Recommendations: Screening should be started at a later age and should include human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. The age of onset of screening should be determined based on data collected regarding the age of sexual debut for women

Keywords:

Saudi Arabia, cervical cancer, prevention. .