ELLEN MLAMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO- Teenage pregnancy is one of the major causes of cervical cancer.
When the cervix gets damaged after conceiving, it leaves young girls exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, some 4 000 women attending the Roman Catholic Church’s St Anne’s Guild national congress at Musami Mission in Murehwa were told.
Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix. It happens when the cells on a cervix start to change to precancerous cells.
Cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted infectious disease, caused by a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV). The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
Sister Claveria Uchirai, a registered nurse and midwifery at St Pauls Musami Mission Hospital explained about cervical cancer to women of St Anne’s Guild at the national congress held from Thursday to Sunday.
She spoke about the risk factors, the most affected group of people, treatment of cervical cancer and monkey pox.
The hospital offered free cervical cancer screening to the congregants on the day.
Young girls who indulge in sexual intercourse are are prone to fall sick with cervical cancer. Having multiple partners and a spouse with several partners also increases the risk.
‘’Those who are at great risk of getting cervical cancer include young women who indulge in sexual intercourse at a younger age. I encourage elderly women and mothers to discourage their children from indulging in sexual intercourse at a tender age.
“People with HIV/AIDS and those who regularly suffer from sexually transmitted infections are also at high risk of having cervical cancer. It may be difficult to detect cervical cancer at an early stage but some may have uncommon bleeding and release water with a bad odour.
“In preventing cervical cancer, the elderly women should have time to talk with young girls and discourage them from indulging in sexual intercourse at a young age. We urge young women to delay in indulging in sexual intercourse. Having one faithful partner, and the vaccination of human papilloma virus given to children from the age of 10 years and above helps as a prevention measure,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) website, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2022, an estimated 660 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 350 000 women died from the disease.
Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
“When diagnosed, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.
“With a comprehensive approach to prevent, screen and treat, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem within a generation, reads part of a post by WHO.
In a telephone interview with Female Students Network Trust Executive Director, Evernice Munando, she said young girls and in particular female students at high school and tertiary institutions are prone to fall sick with cervical cancer because they are indulging in sexual intercourse when they are still very young.
She added that because of economic hardships, students are engaging in transactional sex and having sex with multiple partners to sustain themselves.
“Because of economic hardships, students are engaging in transactional sex with many partners including old men where they get sustainable mechanism in return. Young girls of ages ranging between 16 and 24 years are still developing to become mothers and in the process, the cervix will still be developing. When they get pregnant whilst the cervix is developing, it is most likely to get damaged and get exposed to cancer,” said Munando.
She said young girls need to be sensitised about the risk of indulging in sexual intercourse at a young age.
“It is sad to note that young girls have no information about cervical cancer. Cancer dialogues are happening mostly among old women neglecting young people who are the most affected. Imagine a 16-year-old getting pregnant when the cervix is still developing, it is most likely that when she delivers the baby, the cervix is going to be damaged and hence exposed to cancer.
Munando said some women may face challenges in conceiving because they will have damage the cervix at a tender age. Unplanned pregnancy and having unprotected sex also increases the risk.