Abstract

LUCENA, Lorena Tourinho de; ZAN, Diógenes Guimarães; CRISPIM, Pedro di Tárique Barreto  and  FERRARI, José Odair. Factors influencing the implementation of cervical cancer screening in Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil. Rev Pan-Amaz Saude [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.2, pp.45-50. ISSN 2176-6215.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S2176-62232011000200007.

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in Brazil, and its early detection greatly increases the likelihood of cure. The main tool for the early detection of cervical cancer is the Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear). The aim of the present study was to analyze the biopsychosocial factors that affect the performance of cervical cancer screening tests among women in the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil, with an emphasis on religious practices. An individual questionnaire was applied during home visits, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in local churches where preventive screening is performed monthly. The sample consisted of 227 women of whom 82.8% had previously undergone the test. Ethnicity, marital status, schooling, occupation and religion were not considered significant factors for the execution of preventive screening in the women. There was a preference among the participants towards performing the screening tests at the churches because they offer a physically and socially welcoming space. Therefore, intersectoral policies can be developed to increase the test's coverage rates.

Keywords : Cervical Cancer; Pap Test; Women's Health; Risk Factors.

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