According to research – worldwide, female prisoners have higher rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) which can lead to cancer, and Cervical cancer itself.
How prevalent is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female cancer worldwide, with about 570,000 cases diagnosed per annum according to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics. Latin America, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa having the highest recorded rates. Most deaths from the disease happen in low to middle-income countries.
How could it be prevented?
As with many serious conditions, screening followed by treatment is the best possible course of action, enabling medical professionals to implement it before the disease is able to spread any further into the body.
Historical HPV Prison Studies
Nadia Escobar Salinas of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Santiago, Chile and Emma Plugge of Public Health England, Reading, reviewed dozens of previous HPV and cervical cancer studies in women in prison released between 1968 and 2017.
Over 53,000 incarcerated females were in the study, ranging from ten countries around the world, including the USA, UK, Peru, Mexico and Taiwan.
Nine studies revealed that HPV infection rates varied from 10%-55%, with the lowest percentages being Italy and Brazil, whereas Spain and Taiwan were the highest. Precancerous cervix lesions (often caused by HPV infection) had been diagnosed in 22% of female prisoners. Spain and Brazil ranking highest.
In twenty of the overall 35 studies, imprisoned women ranked double the rate of precancerous cervix lesions when compared with free women in their respective countries.
Most surveys came from high-income countries with the smallest overall number of cases, but even so, the ranges between prisoners and citizens were significant.
Conclusion of the report
The authors of the study concluded that with correct screening procedures within prisons, a condition like Cervical cancer could be completely prevented, as lesions often show up years before invasive cancer is triggered.
Further reading
Read our comprehensive guide to Cervical Cancer, here.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of cervical cancer has affected your health or prognosis, get in touch today for a free initial consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9787 to find out how we can help you.
Article by Stuart Jones
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