title: Screening for cervical cancer, a priority in Zimbabwe?
abstract: In several (first world) countries many cases of cancer of the cervix are prevented through regular screening of women at risk by means of a Pap (anicolao) smear. The adage "prevention is better than cure" suggests that mass screening should also take place in Zimbabwe. A critical public health viewpoint is presented which discusses the complexity of a national cervical cancer screening programme.
authors.affiliation: United Bulawayo Hospitals, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rutgers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verkuyl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology