Inequities in cervical cancer care in indigenous Peruvian women

Abstract

Among Peruvian women, cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in women of reproductive age and has the second highest incidence of all cancers (behind breast cancer). The coastal capital, Lima, is home to the country's National Institute of Cancer (INEN) and has substantially lower rates of cervical cancer than elsewhere in the country, partially due to higher socioeconomic status and better access to screening and specialised care, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This disparity has important implications in Peru, where uptake of early screening via the Papanicolaou (Pap) test is low, particularly for women who live in rural areas, have a low socioeconomic status, and speak indigenous languages...