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Review
. 2025 Jun 25;15(1):89.
doi: 10.1007/s44197-025-00436-4.

A Review of Human Papillomavirus Prevalence and Cervical Cancer in Myanmar

Tay Za Kyi Win  1 , Kate Simms  2 , Myint Myint Thinn  3 , Khaing Nwe Tin  4 , Soe Aung  5 , Eleonora Feletto  6 , Deborah Bateson  7 , Karen Canfell  2
Affiliations
Review

A Review of Human Papillomavirus Prevalence and Cervical Cancer in Myanmar

Tay Za Kyi Win et al. J Epidemiol Glob Health. .

Abstract

Background: Myanmar is estimated to have one of the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Asia. There have been limited screening and treatment services for cervical cancer in Myanmar. In this context, to support cervical cancer elimination, understanding the current burden of cervical cancer in the country is crucial. This review aims to synthesize the evidence on the epidemiology of cervical cancer in Myanmar.

Methods: We used the Joanna Briggs Institute approach for systematic review of observational epidemiological studies to conduct a comprehensive review of burden of human papillomavirus (HPV), precancerous cervical lesions, key co-factors and cervical cancer in Myanmar. Embase, Global Health, Medline, and local databases were searched to May 31, 2024.

Results: Regional population-based cancer registries from Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon reported age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer of 19.3 (in 2018) and 14.1 (during 2013–2017) per 100 000 females, respectively. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate HPV prevalence among the general female population (18–65 years) as 4% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3–5%] in the community-based and 11% [95% CI: (4–21%)] in outpatient clinic screening. Among HIV-positive women, HPV prevalence was reported at 30.1%. The most common HPV types in HPV-positive cervical cancers were HPV 16 (60–85.7%) and HPV 18 (14.8–20%). The prevalence of key co-factors included HIV infection (0.7% in the general female population and 8.3% in female sex workers), tobacco use in females (smoking: 8.4% and smokeless: 24.1%), high parity (4.99 births per married woman) and early aged pregnancy (33 births per 1000 adolescent females).

Conclusions: The cervical cancer incidence rates reported from two regional cancer registries in Myanmar are high relative to those reported in countries across Asia. An estimated one in nine to one in 25 women in Myanmar is infected with HPV, which is broadly concordant with regional estimates. A high prevalence of key co-factors for cervical cancer, combined with limited screening and treatment services, may increase the risk of progression to invasive cancers among HPV infected women. Consequently, Myanmar is likely to bear a substantial burden of cervical cancer.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44197-025-00436-4.

Keywords: Burden of disease; Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Myanmar.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: TZKW is the recipient of International Postgraduate Research Scholarship from the School of Public Health, the University of Sydney, for his PhD study. We do not have any funding support for this study. KC is co-principal investigator (PI) of an investigator-initiated trial of cervical screening, Compass, run by the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), which is a government-funded not-for-profit charity; the ACPCC has received equipment and a funding contribution from Roche Molecular Diagnostics, and operational support from the Australian Government. KC and DB are co-PIs on the implementation program Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific which has received support from the Minderoo Foundation and equipment donations from Cepheid Inc.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Meta-analysis of prevalence of HPV infection among the general female population at community screening setting in Myanmar, 2017–2022
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analysis of prevalence of HPV infection among the symptomatic females at out-patient clinic screening setting in Myanmar, 2009–2019
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Meta-analysis of prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions among the general female population in Myanmar, 2007–2016
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Meta-analysis of HPV prevalence in invasive cervical cancer in Myanmar. 2007–2016
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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