Intersectionality of cancer disparities in south Asia.

ABSTRACT: Member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), home to over 2 billion people, carry a disproportionate cancer burden shaped by stark heterogeneity in risk, access, and outcomes. Beyond large proportions of people living in poverty in the context of frail infrastructure, inequities are compounded by intersecting identities, including gender, caste, religion, language, geography, and sexual or gender minority status. Commonly, women face delayed diagnosis amid low human papillomavirus vaccination and screening; rural communities confront distance and cost; Dalit, indigenous, and refugee groups experience structural exclusion; and language discordance and cultural beliefs impede timely care. Financial toxicity is pervasive, pushing households into poverty despi

SUBMITTER: Menon TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12810684 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature