Gynaecological Malignancies in Nigeria: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Gynaecological malignancies cause most death in women. The estimation of gynaecological epidemiology is invaluable in setting priorities for its control. No study has elucidated the epidemiological burden on Nigerian women until this point. Methods: Our work covered published articles on gynaecological malignancies in Nigeria. The terms of search are "Gynaecological malignancies" and "Nigeria". We searched databases (PubMed, AJOL, Research4Life, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar), journal homepages (BMC, Sahel Medical Journal), and free web searches of related papers. Downloaded papers were assessed for eligibility following PRISMA 2009. Results: The charted data indicated that cervical, ovarian, and uterine were the commonest forms. The rarest was fallopian tube cancers. Developed cities in Nigeria, such as Lagos, Zaria, Anambra, and Enugu had the highest number of publications. In contrast, less developed states such as Imo, Lokoja, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benin, Delta, Kebbi and Ogun states had the least publications. The histological screening was the primary means of diagnosis. Risk factors for some reported cases include active sexual history, age, parity, and family history. Conclusions: The distribution pattern of gynaecological cancers is consistent with what is obtainable worldwide, where cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers were identified as the most prevalent. National screening protocol, national health insurance schemes, and workforce education are key to early detection, mitigating diseases, and improving survival outcomes.