Prevalence of oral cancer screening in South-East Asia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world, with the highest burden in WHO South-East Asia (SE Asia). In 2022, the SE Asia Region reported 177,258 incident cases and 98,735 deaths. Deaths from lip and oral cancer in the region amounted to 52% of total global deaths. The age-standardized incidence rates for lip and oral cavity cancers for the SE Asia region were 12 per 100,000 individuals for males and 4.3 for females. Oral cancer is easily preventable and treatable if diagnosed early.

There is no specific policy regarding oral cancer screening in most Asian countries. The lack of a national oral cancer screening (OCS) program is the biggest hindrance to early detection, leading to delayed diagnosis and poor survival outcomes. The data regarding the OCS in high burden countries in SE Asia and the prevalence of oral cancer detected through OCS will help policymakers to prioritize oral cancer and hence integrate the screening program in its basic health service packages.

With lack of the national level statistics, the prevalence of OCS obtained from individual studies may provide some insights on the screening services and its utilization in a specific country. Hence, this study aims to map the breadth and nature of evidence on oral cancer screening (OCS) in SE Asian countries, covering screening approaches, delivery platforms, target populations, and health‑system and policy factors influencing implementation and uptake.