OBJECTIVETo evaluate the trend of cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates during 1989-2008 in Chinese women, so as to inform the development of relevant policies and strategies in China.

METHODSThe incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer during 1989-2008 in urban and rural areas were calculated based on the data from the National Cancer Registry Database. Age-standardized rates were calculated using the Chinese population of 1982 and World Segi's population of 1985. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to obtain annual percentage changes (APC) so as to assess the trend of incidence and mortality rates over the period from 1989 to 2008.

RESULTSThe crude incidence rate of cervical cancer in Chinese women increased from 3.06/10(5) in 1989-1990 to 11.87/10(5) in 2007-2008 (from 4.96/10(5) to 11.98/10(5) in urban registration areas and from 2.39/10(5) to 11.77/10(5) in rural registration areas).The crude mortality rate slightly increased from 2.19/10(5) in 1989-1990 to 3.20/10(5) in 2007-2008 (from 3.21/10(5) to 2.56/10(5) in urban registration areas and from 1.82/10(5) to 3.75/10(5) in rural registration areas). Generally, the upward trends of crude incidence rates were shown over the year 1989-2008, with an APC of 14.4% after 1997 in urban areas and 22.5% after 1999 in rural areas.After age standardization of world population, the APC of incidence rates in recent decade in urban areas remained stable, and the one in rural areas slightly decreased.Although the overall crude and world age-standardized mortality rates had no significant changes during 1989-2008, the crude mortality rates increased by 8.1% annually after 1999.The upward trends were also shown for crude and world age-standardized mortality rates in urban areas after 2001 with an APC of 7.3%.The crude mortality rates in rural areas increased by 3.9% annually during 1989-2008, but no significant change was found after age standardization.

CONCLUSIONSOver the last decade, the cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates ascended by year in China. It is particularly urgent to establish a comprehensive prevention and control system that combines cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus vaccination, so as to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in Chinese women.