Rural HIV Negative Young Women Presenting with Advanced FIGO Stages (iii and iv) of Early Onset Cancer of the Cervix Compared to their Urban Counterparts in Western Kenya – A Case Study of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital?

Abstract

In many Low and middle income countries, most patients present with advanced cases of cervical cancer (Figo Stages III and IV). The factors contributing to this have been studied and reported as being due to health seeking behaviours, lack of screening services and late diagnosis among others. Objective: This study aimed to explore the increase in incidences of early onset advanced cervical cancer in young HIV Negative rural women, as compared to their urban counterparts presenting at the Oncology Clinic of the hospital. Methodology: A mixed method study was undertaken of purposively recruited HIV negative patients, aged 13-35 years, presenting with Cancer of the Cervix in the 2020-2021 period of study. Findings: The study found out that, in the period 2020-2021, most patients presented to the hospital with early onset advanced cancer of the cervix, and 39 (64%) were diagnosed at FIGO Stages III and IV, while just 22 (36%) were diagnosed at Stages I and II. Conclusion: Our conclusion is that apparently due to the early routine cancer of the cervix screening of young HIV positive women, cases are being diagnosed very early, in the pre-cancer and early stages, leading to early treatment and remission, in turn leading to the increased contribution of young HIV negative women with advanced cancer of the cervix.