Abstract

Objective. Ovarian cancer is known as the seventh most common cancer among women, accounting for about 4 of all cancers associated with the females. Method. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on cancer incidence data and cancer mortality rates from the Global Cancer Data in 2018. The incidence and mortality rates were estimated and ovarian cancer distribution maps for world countries were drawn. To analyze data, correlation and regression tests were used to evaluate association between its incidence and mortality with human development index (HDI) Results. Results revealed a direct and significant correlation between ovarian cancer incidence (R = 0.409, P < 0.0001) and mortality (R = 0.193, P < 0.05) with HDI. It also projected a direct and significant correlation between incidence with Gross National Income per 1,000 capita (GNI), mean years of schooling (MYS), life expectancy at birth (LEB) and expected years of schooling (EYS) (P < 0.0001). The findings also demonstrated a direct and significant correlation between mortality and GNI, MYS, LEB as well as EYS (P < 0.05). The linear regression model showed that a higher MYS B = 0.2, CI 95%: (-0.03, 0.5) can significantly augment the incidence of ovarian cancer while an increased MYS B = 0.2, CI 95% (0.03, 0.4) can induce mortality. Conclusions. Given the direct and significant correlation between ovarian cancer incidence and mortality with HDI, attention to risk factors in these countries can be effective in curbing its incidence and mortality. © 2021 Pacini Editore S.p.A.. All rights reserved.