Prevention of breast and cervix among Brazilian women: A comparison between urban and rural areas

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Brazilian and worldwide women. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among worldwide women and the third among Brazilian women. The fight against breast cancer occurs  mainly by mammography. In cervical cancer case, it’s recommended performing regular Pap test to detect HPV. This study aims to analyze the pattern of actualization of these two exams among Brazilian from 25 years and comparing it between urban and rural areas. Data from the National Survey Household Sample of 2008.

METHODS: The analysis was performed by crossing the elapsed time of the completion of the last cervical exam and mammography, and the results of this cross was divided into four hierarchical levels. Level 1: women completely appropriate. Level 2: women partially inadequate, level 1 closest. Level 3: women partially inadequate, level 4 closest. Level 4 women totally inadequate. Hierarchical level’s boundaries were different for the three age groups considered.

RESULTS: In the range of 25 to 39 years old, 79.2% of women were in level 1 and prevalence was 1.16 times higher in urban than in rural areas. Among women 40-59 years old,  in level 2, 7% of women were in urban areas and 6.2% in rural areas. In level 3 these percentages in urban and rural areas were 18.8% and 36.8% respectively. Among women with 60 years old or more 41,8% never performed any of this 2 tests, and the prevalence was 2.79 times higher in rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS: Data show that younger women tend to perform preventive exams more frequently compared to older women. And women in urban areas perform preventive exams more frequently than women in rural areas. This data suggest the need of improvement in Public policies to reduce those inequalities.