Oral Cancer in East Africa: The Need for Early Detection
By Crystal Lubbe
April 3, 2025
Did you know that oral cancer is a topical public health issue in East Africa? This article provides a comprehensive analysis of oral cancer in East Africa, covering epidemiology, awareness, risk factors, and clinical outcomes. The findings emphasise a growing public health concern, with tobacco use emerging as the predominant risk factor—particularly in Sudan, where the consumption of smokeless tobacco products such as toombak is widespread.
Key Insights
Tobacco Use: Strongly linked to oral cancer risks, particularly in Sudan. It alters the oral microbiome, aiding cancer development.
Late Detection: Majority of cases are diagnosed late, worsening treatment outcomes and mortality.
Risk Factors: Alcohol use, poor oral hygiene, age, HIV status, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection also play significant roles in determining risk profiles.
Awareness and Literacy: Dentists and dental patients show higher awareness than the general public.
Background Context
Globally, oral cancer represents a major public health concern. In East Africa, the rising incidence of oral cancer is fueled by a complex interplay of lifestyle factors, infectious agents, and socioeconomic barriers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recorded high oral cancer rates in the region, and recent studies have begun to elucidate the unique epidemiological and clinical profiles of oral and maxillofacial tumors in East Africa.
In Kenya, the overall prevalence of oral cancer has been reported at an all-time high of 3.6%. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) prevalence in Sudan has been reported to range from 45.1% to 73%, while Kenyan patients present a prevalence of approximately 59.5%.
Implications
The emerging data calls for urgent and tailored public health interventions to address the distinct epidemiological patterns of oral cancer
Healthcare Resource Allocation: Focus on early detection and reducing Tobacco use to guide resource distribution.
Economic Impact: Better screening may lower late-stage treatment costs.
Health Outcomes: Curbing risks and improving detection can boost survival rates.
In conclusion data from Kenya and Sudan reveals a concerning oral cancer situation in East Africa. Moreover, tobacco and alcohol, advanced age, and co-infections like HIV and HPV pose major risks. Therefore, public health authorities must adopt targeted strategies quickly. Moreover, early detection, lifestyle changes—notably curbing toombak use—and better resource allocation can reduce the burden. Finally, integrating epidemiological data into policy will yield better cancer prevention and care. For more details, refer to the original research articles.
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