Logo image
Back
Epidemiology of Cancers in Zambia: A significant variation in Cancer incidence and prevalence across the nation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Epidemiology of Cancers in Zambia: A significant variation in Cancer incidence and prevalence across the nation

Maybin Kalubula, Heqing Shen, Mpundu Makasa and Longjian Liu
Malawi medical journal, v 33(3), pp 186-195
Sep 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v33i3.6
PMID: 35233276
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v33i3.6View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Female Humans Incidence Male Prevalence Sarcoma, Kaposi - epidemiology Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - epidemiology Zambia - epidemiology
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. More than two-thirds of deaths due to cancers occur in low- and middle-income countries where Zambia belongs. This study, therefore, sought to assess the epidemiology of various types of cancers in Zambia. We conducted a retrospective observational study using the Zambia National Cancer Registry (ZNCR) population based data from 2007 to 2014. Zambia Central Statistics Office (CSO) demographic data were used to determine catchment area denominator used to calculate prevalence and incidence rates of cancers. Age-adjusted rates and case fatality rates were estimated using standard methods. We used a Poisson Approximation for calculating 95% confidence intervals (CI). The seven most cancer prevalent districts in Zambia were Luangwa, Kabwe, Lusaka, Monze, Mongu, Katete and Chipata. Cervical cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma were the four most prevalent cancers as well as major causes of cancer related deaths in Zambia. Age adjusted rates and 95% CI for these cancers were: cervix uteri (186.3; CI = 181.77 - 190.83), prostate (60.03; CI = 57.03 - 63.03), breast (38.08; CI = 36.0 - 40.16) and Kaposi's sarcoma (26.18; CI = 25.14 - 27.22). CFR were: Leukaemia (38.1%); pancreatic cancer (36.3%); lung cancer (33.3%); and brain, nervous system (30.2%). The cancer population was associated with HIV with p-value of 0.000 and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.818. The widespread distribution of cancers with high prevalence observed in the southern zone may have been perpetrated by lifestyle and sexual culture (traditional male circumcision known to prevent STIs is practiced in the northern belt) as well as geography. Intensifying cancer screening and early detection countrywide as well as changing the lifestyle and sexual culture would greatly help in the reduction of cancer cases in Zambia.

Metrics

13 Record Views
8 citations in Web of Science
4 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Logo image