Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the coverage of a cervical cancer screening program in a city with a high incidence of the disease in addition to the factors associated with non-adherence to the current preventive program.METHODS A cross-sectional study based on household surveys was conducted. The sample was composed of women between 25 and 59 years of age of the city of Boa Vista, RR, Northern Brazil who were covered by the cervical cancer screening program. The cluster sampling method was used. The dependent variable was participation in a women’s health program, defined as undergoing at least one Pap smear in the 36 months prior to the interview; the explanatory variables were extracted from individual data. A generalized linear model was used.RESULTS 603 women were analyzed, with an mean age of 38.2 years (SD = 10.2). Five hundred and seventeen women underwent the screening test, and the prevalence of adherence in the last three years was up to 85.7% (95%CI 82.5;88.5). A high per capita household income and recent medical consultation were associated with the lower rate of not being tested in multivariate analysis. Disease ignorance, causes, and prevention methods were correlated with chances of non-adherence to the screening system; 20.0% of the women were reported to have undergone opportunistic and non-routine screening.CONCLUSIONS The informed level of coverage is high, exceeding the level recommended for the control of cervical cancer. The preventive program appears to be opportunistic in nature, particularly for the most vulnerable women (with low income and little information on the disease). Studies on the diagnostic quality of cervicovaginal cytology and therapeutic schedules for positive cases are necessary for understanding the barriers to the control of cervical cancer.
Highlights
Cervical cancer (CC) is a neoplasm with great potential for prevention, it is still an important public health problem in Brazil, leading to the highest number of deaths in young women (15-44 years old).a Until 2013, the Ministry of Health’s efforts to control CC were exclusively focused on using the vaginal smear (Pap smear) for screening the sexually active female population (25-64 years).b Nearly 16,000 new cases of CC have been estimated in Brazil in 2014 (15.3/100,000).cIn Northern Brazil, CC is an even bigger problem
The informed level of coverage is high, exceeding the level recommended for the control of cervical cancer
The preventive program appears to be opportunistic in nature, for the most vulnerable women
Summary
Cervical cancer (CC) is a neoplasm with great potential for prevention, it is still an important public health problem in Brazil, leading to the highest number of deaths in young women (15-44 years old).a Until 2013, the Ministry of Health’s efforts to control CC were exclusively focused on using the vaginal smear (Pap smear) for screening the sexually active female population (25-64 years).b Nearly 16,000 new cases of CC have been estimated in Brazil in 2014 (15.3/100,000).cIn Northern Brazil, CC is an even bigger problem. The National Cancer Institute estimates an incidence of 26.6/100,000 in 2014 for the city of Boa Vista, RR, Northern Brazil, which has remained stable in recent years. A population-based study conducted in the state in 20107 revealed a higher cervical cancer incidence than official estimates (46/100,000). Several factors, such as the cultural characteristics of the native people, geographic isolation, limitations of a World Health Organization. Available from: http://www.hpvcentre.net b Ministério da Saúde. Available from: http://www1.inca.gov.br/inca/Arquivos/PROGRAMA_UTERO_internet.PDF c Ministério da Saúde. Incidência de Câncer no Brasil: estimativa 2014. Brasília (DF); 2014 [cited 2014 Jan 1].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
