Prevention of cervical cancer in a poor population in Brazil

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of providing a cervical screening facility to a poor population. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from December 1994 to December 1997, with 1384 women from the poor districts of Barretos, São Paulo and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family practice 2002-04, Vol.19 (2), p.189-192
Main Authors: Mauad, Edmundo C, Gomes, Uilho A, Nogueira, Jarbas L, Melani, Armando GF, Lemos, Denise L, Hidalgo, Geraldo S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active prevention
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brazil
Brazil - epidemiology
Cervical cancer
cervical cancer screening
Cross-Sectional Studies
Developing Countries
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
Papanicolaou Test
Poor people
portable gynaecological table
Screening
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - epidemiology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control
Vaginal Smears
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Summary:Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of providing a cervical screening facility to a poor population. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from December 1994 to December 1997, with 1384 women from the poor districts of Barretos, São Paulo and three other neighbouring cities. Performed by a nurse, the programme included door-to-door interviews and cervical screening. The Papanicolaou smears were taken either at the community centre or at home using a portable gynaecological table transportable by bicycle, developed by the Institution. Results. From 1384 interviewed women, 1044 (75.4%) agreed to undergo the examimation and 499 (47.8%) had never had the test or had not had it repeated within the last 3 years. Among 1044 examined women, seven cases of carcinoma ‘in situ’, one invasive squamous cell carcinoma (stage IB) and two polyps were found. Conclusions. This study shows that programmes of cancer prevention in poor populations can be as successful as those carried out in more developed countries by taking advantage of innovations in the delivery of care.
ISSN:0263-2136
1460-2229
1460-2229
DOI:10.1093/fampra/19.2.189