Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a significant global public health concern, with a disproportionate burden observed in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To study epidemiological profile of the cervical cancer cases at the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (GCRI) over 19-year period (2005–2023). Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study utilized cancer registry data and electronic medical records from the GCRI. The study included all histologically confirmed (23,573) cervical cancer cases registered between January 2005 and December 2023. Annual trends in case registrations, age distribution, and geographic distribution (district level within Gujarat and state level across India) were analyzed. Results: Data shows annual registrations of cervical cancer peaks at 1,446 in 2014 before a marked decline to 614 in 2023 (APC= -4.94%). The mean age at diagnosis was 49.4±11.31 years, with the 40–49 age group representing the highest vulnerability (33.72%). While 27.92% of patients migrated from outside Gujarat- primarily from Rajasthan (15.88%) and Madhya Pradesh (9.22%) the intra-state burden was highest in the Ahmedabad district (19.43%). Significant geographic variance was observed, with registrations ranging from 7.00% in Sabarkantha to as low as 0.07% in the Dang district. Conclusions: This 19-year epidemiological analysis of cervical cancer cases at the GCRI reveals marked decline in hospital-based registrations since 2015. However, the persistent geographic inequities identified throughout the study period highlight critical need for targeted outreach and intensified screening in underserved regions. These longitudinal findings underscore the importance of strengthening preventive interventions to align with the World Health Organization’s 2030 cervical cancer elimination targets.
Shah et al. (Fri,) studied this question.