Addressing cancer prevention and control in Armenia: tobacco control and mHealth as key strategies

• Main Authors: Carla J. Berg, Arusyak Harutyunyan, Nino Paichadze, Adnan A. Hyder, Varduhi Petrosyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-01-01
• Series: International Journal for Equity in Health
• Subjects: Cancer prevention; Cancer control; Tobacco control; Policy; mHealth
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01344-8

Abstract This paper focuses on the particular challenges in cancer prevention and control (CPC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In particular, this paper extrapolates challenges and opportunities in Armenia, which has the 2nd highest rate of cancer-related deaths in the world, the 11th highest smoking prevalence among men globally, and an evolving health system infrastructure for non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control, including CPC. Despite significant progress in enhancing research capacity in Armenia over the past decade, additional efforts are needed, particularly in CPC-related research. Key opportunities are to advance tobacco control and utilization of mHealth. Public health training programs remain insufficient in the area of CPC, and in-country research expertise regarding CPC and related areas (e.g., tobacco control, mHealth, policy) is limited, particularly given the need to address the diverse and complex determinants of onset, prevention, and management of cancer. Moreover, critical gaps in research dissemination and knowledge translation from evidence to policy and practice continue to exist. Thus, public health infrastructure must be enhanced, in-country CPC leaders across various relevant disciplines must be further developed and supported, and medical and public health training must more fully integrate CPC and research dissemination and translation to inform policy and practice.