Relationship of gynaecologic cancer stage and poverty

Authors

  • César Gutiérrez Departamento Académico de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú.
  • Edith Alarcón Departamento Académico de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15381/anales.v69i4.1111

Keywords:

Gynaecologic neoplasms, uterine cervical neoplasms, breast neoplasms, poverty, health inequalities.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between poverty and stage at diagnosis of gynaecologic cancer. Design: Multiple groups ecologic study. Setting: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN – National Institute of Cancer). Participants: Women with both cervical and breast cancer. Methods: From 2000-2004 INEN statistics registry we determined the proportion of patients from Lima and Callao who sought care for both cervical and breast cancer advanced stages (III and IV). We registered the patients’ district of origin poverty level by using the 2006 Foncodes poverty map, ranking the districts of Lima and Callao in deciles according to the deprivation index. The Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated to establish the proportion of patients with advanced stage of a gynaecologic cancer and the level of poverty. Main outcome measures: New cases of both breast and cervical cancer and poverty. Results: During the period studied there were 2 956 new cases of breast cancer and 2 547 new cases of cervical cancer; 50,7% of breast cancer and 44,1% of cervical cancer cases sought care with an advanced stage of the disease. A statistically significant direct correlation was found between poverty level and advanced cases of breast cancer (rho = 0,81, p<0,001) and between poverty and advanced cases of cervical cancer (rho=0,92, p<0,001). Conclusions: We found a strong correlation between poverty level and advanced cases of gynaecologic cancer in patients attended at INEN in the period 2000-2004. This could be an indicator of access inequality to health services in the population of Lima and Callao.

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Published

2008-12-31

Issue

Vol. 69 No. 4 (2008)

Section

Trabajos originales

License

Copyright (c) 2008 César Gutiérrez, Edith Alarcón

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How to Cite

1.
Gutiérrez C, Alarcón E. Relationship of gynaecologic cancer stage and poverty. An Fac med [Internet]. 2008 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Jul. 1];69(4):239-43. Available from: https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/anales/article/view/1111