British reality star Jade Goody's televised last days have created awareness about cervical cancer world over including in India where the number of such cases is said to be among the highest.

Lack of awareness, multiple sexual partners and unhygienic living conditions are mainly attributed for the rise of the disease which causes the largest number of deaths among women worldwide.

"Unhygienic conditions of poor people is the prime culprit for the rise of cervical cancer," says Dr Amit Bhar, Medical Oncologist, Max Hospital.

A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that about 1.3 lakh new cases of cervical cancer are reported every year, in India and about a quarter of the five lakh cases globally.

"Slums also exist abroad but they are clean and maintained in terms of hygiene. Also, even though in low socio-economic bases women have multiple sexual partners, there is minimal use of protection in India," says Bhar.

Experts point out that women need to be sensitised to curb the growth of this disease.

"Even the educated class are not aware of cervical cancer and often link it with the neck. We have to explain to them that cervical cancer is caused in the lower part of the body," says gynaecologist, Sunita Verma. Cancer Research Foundation of India (CRFI), a recently constituted body is actively involved in spreading awareness.

Dr Siddharth Sahni, co-founder, CRFI says, "Awareness, prevention and detection is what we are striving for to deal with cancer. We need to reach out to both grass roots and urban India."

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