Differences Between Urban and Rural Areas of the Republic of Suriname in the Ethnic and Age Distribution of Cancer - A Retrospective Study from 1980 Through 2004

Abstract

We investigated whether there were differences between the urban and rural areas of the Republic of Suriname with respect to the racial and age distribution of cancer between 1980 and 2004. Patient information was from the Patho- logic Anatomy Laboratory, relevant population data from the General Bureau of Statistics. Urban and rural cancer inci- dence rates (means ± SDs per 100,000 per year) were calculated for cancer overall as well as for the most common malig- nancies, and were stratified for the largest ethnic groups, viz. Creole, Hindustani, and Javanese, and for age strata 0-19, 20-49, and 50+ years. Rates for cancer overall and for most leading malignancies were up to 2.5-fold higher in the urban areas than in the rural areas. Furthermore, rates for urban Creole were 1.5- to 5-fold higher than those for rural Creole as well as Hindustani and Javanese from either residence. Also, rates for urban individuals of 50+ years were approximately twice those for rural people of the same age group. These tendencies were most apparent for gastrointestinal, breast, he- matological and prostate cancer. Our findings suggest that there were significant differences between the urban and rural areas of Suriname with respect to the ethnic and age distribution of cancer. INTRODUCTION