Addressing Global Disparities in Cervical Cancer Burden: A Narrative Review of Emerging Strategies

Cervical cancer burden is disproportionately higher in low to middle income countries, especially in countries with a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden. This review investigates barriers to implementation and assesses current progress in cervical cancer screening in lower resource settings by reviewing technologies and strategies that have already been implemented in low to middle income countries.

Several novel innovations embrace the recent World Health Organization (WHO) update to screening guidelines that recommends a "screen and treat" approach rather than a "screen, triage and treat" approach. Innovations include human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, portable cervical visualization devices, and creative large-scale approaches to increase screening accessibility. Overall, a low-cost, accurate, point-of-care screening test could alleviate most of the barriers associated with cervical cancer screening in lower resource settings. Further research into the development of a low-cost HPV test in conjunction with the HPV vaccine and other screening tools could expedite progress.