Prevalence of screening for cervical cancer in Brazil, in 2007 and 2013.

Abstract

Background: Cervix cancer is caused by the
persistent infection by some oncogenic strains of the Human
Papiloma Virus. It happens due to the abnormal growth of
cells that have the capacity of locally invade and metastatize to
distance. Cervix cancer is the third more frequent tumor among
women and the fourth greater cause of death due to cancer in this
population. For this reason, the cervix cytological examination
becomes fundamental to track and diagnose this pathology,
avoiding a metastatic role of it. Objectives: To determine the
prevalence of the cervix cytological examination in the years
2007 and 2013, in all regions of Brazil, and compares them.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, based on a secondary
data of Chronic Diseases Risk and Protection Factors Vigilance
by Telephone Inquiry (VIGITEL) of years 2007 and 2013.
VIGITEL’s objective is to monitor the frequency and distribution
of noncommunicabel chronic diseases main determiners by
phone inquiry. This questionnaire is anually performed since
2006 and, from 2007 on, questions about cancer prevention were
included, being 2013 data the latest available up to the moment.
The present research is performed with adults over 18 years old,
residentes in the 26 capital cities of Brazil and Federal District.
The outcome approached the performance or not of preventive
cervix cancer examination at some point and in the last 3 years,
being included women between 25 and 64 years old. In 2007,
32704 women were interviewed and in 2013, 32653. This data
was organized according to year and region for further analysis.
Results: In 2007, from all Brazilian women interviewed,
84.67% said they have already done the cervix cancer tracking
examination, while 79.81% claimed to have it done in the last
3 years. By regions, South region was highlighted with 92.85%
and 88.21%, for the same variables. Northeast region had the
lowest rates in the country, 80.12% and 75%, respectively.
Southeast region showed high rates, near South. Midwest was
in third place, getting over North region. In 2013, 85.61% of
women said they have already done the examination at some
point in life, and 80.68% were updated with it. By regions,
South regions was again highlighted, with 92.75% of women
having done the examination at some moment and 87.81% being
updated with it. Northeast region had the worst performance,
with 80.8% and 75.59%, respectively. Still, the Midwest was
supplanted by the North, after slight improvement of the later in
relation to 2007. Discussion/Conclusion: South, Southeast and
Midwest regions kept with high rates of the examination, similar
to developed countries. In 2007, North region, which was under
the coverage of 80% demanded by WHO, managed, in 2013, to
supplant it. Northeast had a quick increase; however, it remains
short of this goal. With this, it was concluded that in Brazil,
in general, the tracking coverage has increased, overtaking, in
2013, the goal of this Organization.