A recent survey conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand has revealed that more than two-thirds of South African women are at risk developing cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women in South Africa, and the second most frequent cancer among women between the age of 15 and 44.

A report of WHO/ICO on HPV and cervical cancer 2010 shows that 25.66 million people in the population of SA were women, out of which 16.84 million women aged 15 years and older were at risk of developing cervical cancer. Nearly 21% of women in the general population were expected to develop cervical HPV infection at any given time.

The epidemic has been showing positive trends not only in South Africa but in the whole African continent. The epidemic involves not only cervix, but other areas in the female genital tract and anogenital region. Experts claim that limited access to the information and resources has contributed towards the spread of HPV-induced diseases.

Educating the public, providing them all the necessary information and resources, modifying human behavior will help in curbing the spread of disease.