The rising burden of female cancer in Ethiopia (2000–2021) and projections to 2040: Insights from the global burden of disease study

What is it about?

This study addresses the rising, urgent public health crisis of female cancers in Ethiopia by analyzing two decades of data (2000–2021) and projecting future trends up to 2040. We found that the burden of these cancers (breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine) is accelerating dramatically, particularly for breast and ovarian cancers, which saw incidence rates surge by nearly 150% and 160% respectively. Critically, the health impact is increasingly shifting from mortality to long-term disability as more women live longer with the disease, underscoring a significant unmet need for supportive care services. While we observed some progress in reducing cervical cancer deaths, the overall picture is bleak: all female cancers are projected to continue rising through 2040 across all regions. This research provides a clear, evidence-based mandate for the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to implement urgent, targeted interventions—specifically, scaling up early detection and screening programs, and investing heavily in robust cancer care and long-term disability support—to mitigate this impending health disaster.

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