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Abstract
Introduction/Background*The Cervical Cancer Prevention Policy Atlas is a comparative map that scores
46 countries across geographical Europe (not only the European Union) on prevention policies of cervical cancer. The Atlas compares the countries on:
1. Primary prevention of cervical cancer through HPV vaccination
2. Secondary prevention of cervical cancer through screening programs, and
3. Online information on HPV, cervical cancer and accessing vaccination
It does not reflect the prevalence rate of cervical cancer in the countries or programmatic performance. The Atlas aims is to serve as a baseline to compare policies on HPV in Europe and concretely to:
- Establish the need for HPV prevention by highlighting inequity of access.
- Educate national stakeholders on the issue
- Spark debate with key policy makers at the most appropriate levels (national, regional and international)
Methodology We scored 46 European countries based on 3 headings, 9 criteria and 14 sub-criteria using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP method is about setting a general, overall goal and further breaking it down the headings, criteria and sub-criteria, resembling the ’tree and the branches’. Each final ‘branch’, the smallest sub-criteria has its specific weight and based on the answer will receive a percentage score. Finally the scores for each sub-criteria are added up to the total score of each country.
Result(s)* Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and the UK are the policy champions and lead the Atlas with excellent policies on primary secondary prevention and providing evidence based information to citizens.
Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia worst performing countries in the EU (no funding for vaccines, vaccine only available to girls, poorly organised screening programmes, absence of reliable online information). In terms of geographical Europe, Belarus and Azerbaijan score the worse, as there is literally no information about the HPV prevention to be found and policies on primary or secondary prevention are non-existent.
Conclusion*The situation in Europe is very unequal. There is a clear divide between northern Europe, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe. While vaccine exists and screenings technologies are available – today the access is very dependent on where you live. This leads to high incidence and mortality which could be avoided should proper policies be put in place.
Links ATLAS:
EPF: