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Abstract
Introduction/Background The HPV Prevention Policy Atlas is a comparative map that scores
46 countries across Europe on prevention policies of cervical cancer. It compares the countries on:
Primary prevention of cervical cancer through HPV vaccination
Secondary prevention of cervical cancer through screening programs, and
Online state information on HPV
It does not reflect the prevalence rate of cervical cancer in the countries. The Atlas aims to serve as a baseline to compare policies on HPV, educate national stakeholders and spark debate with policymakers
Methodology Atlas scores 46 European countries based on 3 headings 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.
Results The 2023 HPV Atlas compares the progress with the earlier 2020 edition. The results will be available on 22 June and compared to earlier results:
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.
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 – 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.
Disclosures https://www.epfweb.org/node/552