Evaluation of Dodoma cervical cancer population-based surveillance system at Dodoma Tanzania, January to December 2022

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Introduction: Cervical cancer has been noted as one of the major life-threatening non-communicable diseases globally. It is the fourth most frequent cancer among women, with an estimated 604 000 new cases in 2020. In Tanzania, it’s the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with an incidence of 625 cases per 1,000,000 women per year. Cervical cancer surveillance is an essential component in cancer control and prevention. However, the performance of this system in Tanzania is not known. We conducted an evaluation to assess the usefulness and performance of the cervical cancer surveillance system in Dodoma to identify areas for improvement. Methods: We evaluated Dodoma’s population-based cervical cancer surveillance system from January 2022 to December 2022. Using the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems, eight attributes were assessed. For each attribute, indicators were developed and described using quantitative or qualitative methods. Scores for each indicator were categorised as <60%, 60–79%, and >80% as weak, moderate, and good performance, respectively. Document review and interviews were conducted to collect relevant data on system performance. Data were analyzed by Epi Info 7. Results: Between January and December 2022, the system recorded 123 cases of cervical cancer. Of these, 76 (62%) were reported by the Makey Pathology Laboratory. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 109 cases (89%), and 25 cases (20%) involved patients under 45 years of age. The system performed well on timeliness, acceptability, flexibility, and sensitivity, while it showed moderate performance on data quality and weaker performance in stability. The overall mean score across all eight attributes was 2.4, indicating moderate to good performance. Conclusion: Overall system performance was satisfactory, with moderate to good performance. Data have been useful in guiding resource allocation and forming strategic guidelines for the prevention of cervical cancer. To strengthen the system further, efforts should focus on improving financial sustainability as well as data quality.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.