Cervical Cancer Screening Among Urban Brazilian Women.

EC Mauad MD^a, UA Gomes MD^b, AGF Melani MD^a,c, SR Morini MD^a,d, MV Denadai MD^a,e

^aDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Fundação Pio XII – Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, Barretos-Brazil, São Paulo, ^b, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, ^cDepartment of Gynecological Oncology, , ^dDepartment of Anatomic Pathology, , ^eDepartment of Surgery

Cervical cancer is the second most frequent malignancy among women worldwide, as well as in Brazil. A cross-sectional study involving an active search for cases was designed in order to reach sexually active women residing in Barretos, state of São Paulo, Brazil and perform screening for cervical cancer when applied. Performed by a nurse the study was carried out in two steps, i.e. dissemination of the procedure among the population using radio programme, community leaders, distribution of folders at home, etc, and detection of cervical cancer at community center, Mobile Unit or at home using a portable gynaecological table. Of the 17.973 women interviewed, from August 2001 to August 2002; 2142 (11,9%) had never had a Papanicolaou test. This negative response was more common among women aged < 35 years an > = 50 years, among women with less schooling and among women of lower socio-economic classification (P<0.05). Of the 17.973 interviewed women, 10.937 (60,9%) were examined. Excluding women who had taken the test during the last 6 months, women who did the test with private doctor, etc, who therefore refuse to repeat it, the coverage was 84,5%. Twenty-eight women with in situ carcinoma were identified as well as 7 with invasive squamous cell carcinoma. We may conclude that, this active prevention can reverse this dramatic picture of advanced cases of cervical cancer in less privileged populations.

Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Nice, France; February 7 - 10, 2004; in poster session 992 (Screening & detection).