The impact of a community intervention to improve cervical cancer screening uptake in the Amazon region of Brazil

Abstract

RESULTS:The results obtained were compared with historical offi cial data retrieved from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's database. Intervention resulted in a 40% increase in positive Pap smears and detection of cancer was nine times higher than had been observed in routine screening. CONCLUSIONS:Detection of pre-invasive and invasive cervical lesions in the intervention group was remarkably higher than among women seen during routine screening.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the Pap test among women in northeastern Brazil

“…Because the test is quick, painless, broadly applicable, easy to perform, performable in outpatient clinics and inexpensive, it has been considered to be the best method for cervical cancer screening. 10,13,14 However, an estimated 40% of Brazilian women have never been tested. 15 Low compliance arises for many reasons, including difficulties in accessing healthcare services, emotional discomfort for some women, embarrassment, social taboos, socioeconomic conditions and poor understanding of the benefits of testing for preventing cervical cancer.…”

Intratumoral Lymphatic Vessel Density and Clinicopathologic Features of Patients With Early-Stage Cervical Cancer After Radical Hysterectomy

“…However, a considerably high incidence of cervical cancer still remains in regions where screening programs are not as accessible. 2,3 Of the cervical cancer cases in Brazil, approximately 50% are advanced in stage (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stages IIIYIV), thus narrowing the available treatment options to radiation with concurrent cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. For patients with FIGO stage IB1 and IIA tumors, the recommended treatment can be radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy if any high-risk factor for recurrence is present.…”

Analysis of Interventions for Improving Cervical-Cancer Screening Uptake among Nigerian Women

“…In Brazil, a 40% increase in positive Pap smears with cancer detection rate nine times higher than observed in routine screening using mobile unit was recorded [68]. An increased screening uptake of 75.4% similar to that reported in India was recorded in Brazil using mobile clinic [20,44], while in South Africa, a total of 97% of patients referred for colposcopy complied because it could be obtained at the same visit and venue where mobile cervical-cancer prevention service was rendered, unlike 34% compliance when referred to the nearest colposcopy clinic, 20 km from the screening site [69].…”