Cobertura do exame de Papanicolaou no município de Manaus, Amazonas: um estudo de base populacional

Abstract

Uterine cervix cancer (UCC) control remains a challenge for health policies in developing countries. In Brazil, UCC prevention is mainly based on Pap smear screening, which has proven useful in reducing the incidence and mortality from this cancer when performed periodically. Amazonas, in the north of Brazil, is among the states with the highest rates of incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. Considering this background, it was proposed the present study that aimed to estimate the prevalence of Pap smear coverage among women in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, and secondarily, we intended to describe the profile of these women and to identify the frequency and factors associated with Pap smear realization. It is a cross-sectional population-based study, with individuals randomly selected through a household-sample frame. It were included in the study 1100 women aged 25-59 years who lived in the urban area of Manaus, through October to December 2011. It was observed that 92.5% of women reported having had at least one Pap test during lifetime and 76.5% (95% CI, 74.04-79.05) had had the exam in the past three years , while 66.6% of women (95% CI, 63.8-69.3) reported an annual basis. The majority of women (56.8 %) was 25 to 34 years, had stable relationship (52.45), had completed high school (50.5 %), had family income of up to two minimum wages (66.1 %) and had not a landline (64.2 %). The factors associated to the use of Pap smear in the past three years were working in a public company, having a college degree, having earned over ten minimum wages, the presence landline at home, not being a smoker, having only one partner in the last 12 months, having had one or two pregnancies, using non-surgical methods of contraception, knowing the purpose of Pap test, having received information about exam at the health institution, having gynecological examination more than once a year, having the Pap smear periodically even feeling healthy, having had the test at private practice, having had the first test due to medical recommendation, having not had difficult to perform the test. Thus, it was verified that coverage of Pap smear in Manaus is below the minimum level required to have impact on UCC morbidity and mortality indicators. Early diagnosis needs to be improved, and there should be a proactively strategies with heterogeneous distribution of UCC control actions. In this perspective, it is necessary to ensure equitable access, and to produce continuous information and health education actions, sensitizing women about UCC prevention and its risk factors.