Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in South Africa and Peru, despite being highly preventable. In 2022, South Africa recorded 33.2 new cervical cancer cases per 100,000 women, well above the average of 14.2 in upper-middle-income countries. Peru reported a rate of 23.9 per 100,000.
Mortality rates in both countries reflect delayed diagnoses and gaps in routine screening. In South Africa, the cervical cancer mortality rate reached 19.0 per 100,000 in 2022, while Peru recorded a rate of 12.1. Women in rural and peri-urban communities are disproportionately affected due to systemic barriers such as limited healthcare infrastructure, lack of transportation, and low health literacy.
