Knowledge of and access to screening in women with carcinoma of the cervix ín Brazil

Abstract

In order to assess the level of knowledge of screening for carcinoma of the cervix among women presenting with this condition, a survey of a consecutive series of patients was undertaken. AH 266 patients presenting at this hospital during 1988 for the treatment of carcinoma of the cervix completed a structured questionnaire about cervical câncer screening. A percentage of 68.8% patients had never been screened. Those patients who had not previously had a cervical smear test were more likely to be in the older age groups (over 45 years) and to come from low income groups with poor educatlon and poor access to medicai facilities. Even among patients who had previousiy had contacts with the medicai profession, only a minority (approximately 40%) had undergone cervical screening at any time. Since carcinoma of the cervix is currently the commonest malignant neoplasm in women in Brazil, it is evident that an urgent campaign is necessary to educate both the public and the medical profession in cervical screening, hopefully to reduce the very high rate of Invasive carcinoma of the cervix in this country.

Keywords

• Cervical Cancer
• Screening