The Association Between Cancer Incidence, HIV Prevalence, and Gross Domestic Product in Uganda

Abstract

This research examines the association of cancer incidence, HIV prevalence and gross domestic product in Uganda. The study utilised secondary data were Cancer data was obtained from the Kampala Cancer Registry, Uganda. Gross domestic product data from IMF’s World Economic Outlook and AIDS data from UNAIDS 2017 report. Multivariate time series analysis method was used covering a period from 1993 -2014. The research findings indicate that the Non-AIDS defining cancers, that is, stomach (p=0.000), eye (p=0.000), liver (p=0.000) and prostate (p=0.000) had a long run positive significant relationship with HIV prevalence while colon (p=0.002), lung (p=0.00) and breast (p=0.004) had a negative significant relationship with HIV prevalence. Also breast (p=0.00) and prostate (p=0.001) had a positive significant relationship with Gross domestic product while cancer of the lung (p=0.000) had a negative significant relationship with gross domestic product in Uganda. AIDS defining cancers such as Non-Hodgkin cancer (p=0.001) had a long run positive significant relationship with HIV prevalence while cervical (p=0.000) had a negative significant relationship with HIV prevalence. Cervical cancer (p=0.014) had a positive significant relationship with Gross domestic product in Uganda. The study recommends government to enhance policies that reduce HIV since it was observed that HIV had a significant relationship with cancer.