Cervical cancer stage distribution and survival outcomes in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, with a disproportionate burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the cervical cancer stage and outcomes is crucial for developing effective interventions and reducing its burden. We aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of cervical cancer stage distribution and survival outcomes in Africa.

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Clarivate Analytics Web of Science, and the World Health Organization African Index Medicus database for publications in all languages from the inception of databases to July 2021. A total of 144 studies published between 1978 and 2021 from 33 African countries were included, encompassing 55,747 patients.

We revealed that 53.3% (95% CI 50.9 to 55.6) of cervical cancer cases in Africa were diagnosed at late stages (stage III-IV). This proportion varied significantly across countries and regions, ranging from 7.7% to 86.3%. The study also highlighted disparities by Human Development Index (HDI) grouping, with low HDI countries exhibiting higher proportions of late-stage diagnoses (56.0%, 95% CI 51.6 to 60.4) compared with medium (51.2%, 95% CI 47.5 to 54.9) and high (50.7%, 95% CI 47.0 to 54.5) HDI countries. Notably, there was no stage migration observed over time (p = .53). The median overall survival was 24.0 months (interquartile range, 19.2-39.4).

These stage and outcomes data highlight the need for expanding cervical cancer screening and treatment and are crucial for policymakers to develop evidence-based strategies aimed at accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer in Africa. Additionally, standardized data collection and reporting are needed to facilitate better monitoring of cervical cancer outcomes across countries.