Modeling of Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in a Region of the Peruvian Amazonia

Cervical cancer prevention allows significantly reducing mortality and decreasing cancer treatment costs for healthcare systems. In the Peruvian Amazonia, cervical cancer has high mortality rates, mainly because of late diagnosis and access to treatment. In this context, the objective of this work was to analyze the cervical cancer prevention program by implementing a discrete event simulation model. The Pap smear based screening was modeled from the Peruvian healthcare guidelines and validated with data obtained from the current process applied in a district of Madre de Dios Region. Two alternative scenarios were also simulated. Results indicate that it is possible to improve prevention for the urban area of the region from 1% to 20% through implementing a faster screening strategy. Which allows a decrease in waiting time for results from 60 days to 2 days and facilitates adherence to obtain final diagnosis and treatment. Alternative strategies appropriate for the sociocultural and geographical characteristics of the region can be modeled using this tool.