Factors related to inadequate cervical cancer screening in two Brazilian state capitals

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 318 - 325
• Main Authors: Martins, Luís Felipe Leite, Valente, Joaquim Gonçalves, Thuler, Luiz Claudio Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo 01-04-2009
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude to Health; Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Policy & Services; Humans; Mass Screening - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Poisson Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; Vaginal Smears - statistics & numerical data; Salud de la Mujer; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Neoplasias do Colo do Útero; Women's Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Frotis Vaginal; Estudos Transversais; Vaginal Smears; diagnosis; Saúde da Mulher; Programas de Rastreamento; Estudios Transversales; diagnóstico; Esfregaço Vaginal; Tamizaje Masivo; Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino
• ISSN: 0034-8910; 1518-8787; 1518-8787; 0034-8910
• DOI: 10.1590/S0034-89102009000200013

To analyze factors associated with cervical cancer screening failure.
Population-based cross-sectional study with self-weighted two-stage cluster sampling conducted in the cities of Fortaleza (Northeastern Brazil) and Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil) in 2002. Subjects were women aged 25-59 years in the last three years prior to the study. Data were analyzed through Poisson regression using a hierarchical model.
The proportion of women who did not undergo the Pap smear test in Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro was 19.1% (95% CI: 16.1;22.1) and 16.5% (95% CI: 14.1;18.9), respectively. Higher prevalence ratios of cervical cancer screening failure in both cities were seen among women with low education and low per capita income, old age, unmarried, who never underwent mammography, clinical breast examination, and blood glucose and cholesterol level testing. Smokers also had lower screening rates compared to non-smoker women and this difference was only statistically significant in Rio de Janeiro.
The study findings point to the need of intervention focusing particularly women in worse socioeconomic conditions and access to healthcare, old-aged and unmarried. Education activities must prioritize screening of asymptomatic women and early diagnosis for symptomatic women and access to adequate diagnostic methods and treatment should be provided.