Colpocytological Test Coverage and Factors Associated with Non-Performance: A Look at the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in the State of Pará

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer represents an important public health problem. It is the 4th most frequent neoplasm among women in Brazil. Its prevention is carried out in all women from 25 to 64 years old through cytopathological examination of the cervix, based on a screening that allows the detection of lesions and, thus, the early diagnosis of the disease. Objective: To analyze data regarding the coverage of the Pap smear test in women in the state of Pará, Brazil, and the factors related to not performing the test. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological study carried out with data collection from SISCAN and SISCOLO provided by DATASUS. Results: the total sample analyzed was 762,492 patients, among them, the search for disease screening was the main reason for performing it (95.9%); the age group with the highest achievement was 30 to 34 years old (13.33%). In situ and invasive adenocarcinoma subtypes were more prevalent between 40 and 44 years old (18.13% and 20.37%, respectively). Education level was ignored in 98.38%. The test was considered technically satisfactory in 94.71% of the samples and, among them, 39.40% did not have endocervical or metaplastic cells. Conclusion: the Pap test is the best method for tracking and preventing malignant neoplasms of the uterine cervix, directly impacting the epidemiological indices of the disease, due to its early recognition and treatment. Measures such as women's awareness of the subject, proper training of health professionals who carry out the collection, investment in health actions aimed at women and proper completion of notification forms on the platform are of paramount importance for improving the incidence and mortality rates of the cancer, especially in the North region, which has the highest rates in Brazil.