Socioeconomic disparities in uterine cervical cancer burden; an ecological assessment of global incidence and mortality patterns by human development index in 2022

Introduction: Uterine cervical cancer remains a major public health concern worldwide, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, significant disparities in incidence and mortality persist, largely reflecting underlying socioeconomic inequalities. The human development index (HDI), a composite measure of life expectancy, education, and per capita income, offers a critical lens for examining these disparities on a global scale. Objectives: This ecological study aimed to investigate the patterns of cervical cancer incidence and mortality across countries stratified by HDI in 2022, highlighting the persistent influence of socioeconomic development on disease burden. Materials and Methods: This ecological study utilized data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) project for the year 2022. Incidence and mortality statistics for uterine cervical cancer were extracted for countries worldwide and stratified according to the HDI categories. Comparative analyses were then performed to evaluate differences in uterine cancer incidence and mortality across varying HDI levels. Results: The results showed that countries classified as very high HDI demonstrated the most favorable outcomes in the context of uterine cervical cancer, displaying the smallest proportions of both newly diagnosed cases and resultant mortality. Conversely, as the HDI categorization shifts downwards, transitioning from the designation of high to medium, and subsequently to low, a corresponding and gradual escalation becomes evident in the rates of both the incidence of new cervical cancer diagnoses and the rates of mortality stemming from this particular disease. Conclusion: In conclusion, the significant socioeconomic disparities identified in uterine cervical cancer incidence and mortality underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions in lower HDI countries. Addressing these inequities through improved access to prevention, screening, and treatment is essential to reduce the disproportionate burden and promote global health equity in cervical cancer outcomes.