Preventing human papilloma virus transmission in the UAE: evidence-based interventions at primordial, primary and secondary prevention levels

Authors

  • Niyi Awofeso Department of Healthcare Management, School of Health and Environmental Studies, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, P. O. Box 71400, Dubai Academic City, UAE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20163901

Keywords:

Cervical cancer, HPV, Prevention, UAE

Abstract

Oncogenic viruses, exemplified by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer, are currently linked to about 15% of human cancers globally.  Death rates from cervical cancer have declined by 75% in industrialized nations over the past two decades leaving low and middle-income nations with about 90% of the disease burden.  Cervical cancer is one of very few cancers that is almost completely vaccine-preventable – timely administration of the nanovalent HPV vaccine could prevent 85% to 92% of all cervical cancers.  In the UAE during 2014, there were 93 incident cases of cervical cancer and 23 deaths from the disease, out of 912 incident cancer cases and about 420 deaths from cancer among females in UAE.   Cervical cancer is UAE’s third most commonly detected cancer among women and third most common cause of cancer-related death among women.  Cervical cancer is a culturally sensitive disease in UAE and most Muslim nations where extramarital sex is illegal, given that HPV is generally sexually transmitted and persistent HPV infection is the cause of all cervical cancers.  This review examines major cultural, behavioural and health management-related drivers of HPV transmission in UAE, and proposes evidence-based approaches for primordial, primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention. 

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Published

2016-12-22

How to Cite

Awofeso, N. (2016). Preventing human papilloma virus transmission in the UAE: evidence-based interventions at primordial, primary and secondary prevention levels. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 3(11), 2967–2972. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20163901

Issue

Section

Review Articles