Cervical cancer prevention in Bahrain : review

Abstract EN

Cervical cancer is estimated as the second most common cause of death worldwide from cancer in women.

Approximately 650 women die from this cancer every day; half-million are diagnosed each year.

Until recently, the few available reports on the prevalence of cancer from the Arabian Gulf Council States (GCC) were suggestive that the incidence of uterine cancer in general was less common compared with those reported from western country.

Cancer registries in the GCC States in the last five years indicate that uterine cancer has moved to the third on the list of leading causes of cancer in the region.

Among a population of 1,025, 000 in the kingdom of Bahrain, it is estimated that 10-15 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year (2001-2007), and approximately 4-6 deaths from this disease per annum.

There is an evidence of a gradual increase in the incidence of cervical cancer compared with the figures two decades ago.

The ratio of endometrial compared with cervical cancer was 1:2 but the two incidences are presently reversed.

Cytology screening for uterine cancer was started in Bahrain in 1971, which soon was integrated in postnatal and in gynecological clinics.

Recently successful program of public health screening was introduced against breast cancer in Bahrain; it is imperative that a similar program of national screening against uterine and cervical cancer combined with a national campaign for immunization of adolescent girls against human papilloma virus be integrated in the program and thus reducing the mortality from these two leading causes of cancer death among women.

In this article a review of definitions, prevalence and history of cervical cytology service in Bahrain will be presented.

Contemporary concepts of cervical cytology, new standard of care and current practice guidelines in screening and prevention will be reviewed.

Finally, a discussion on the ways and means of improving the existing cytology and prevention programs in Bahrain will be discussed.