[Evaluation of cervical cancer control actions within Brazil and its regions based on data recorded in the Brazilian Unified National Health System]

Epidemiological Profile of Ophir Loyola Cancer Hospital: A Snapshot of the Incidence of Solid Neoplasms in the Eastern Amazon

BACKGROUND

Solid neoplasms have a heterogeneous incidence worldwide and in Brazil. Thus, the region delimited by the Legal Amazon has a distinct epidemiological profile. In Pará, Ophir Loyola Cancer Hospital(OLCH) accounts for 71.11% of hospital visits in the state.

METHODS

This was an ecological, exploratory, and mixed descriptive studythat investigated the epidemiological profile of patients with cancer treated at OLCH from January to December 2020. Sociodemographic data at admission were the primary variables, which were analyzed according to spatial distribution.

RESULTS

In this study, the data of 2952 patients were analyzed, with the majority being between the ages of 50 and 79 years (62.47%), female (59.49%), and diagnosed but without previous treatment (87.30%). The most common cancers were breast (16.50%), cervical (13.40%), stomach (8.98%), and prostate (7.72%). Of the 12 integration regions, Guajará had the highest number of referrals (49.86%), followed by Guamá (12.94%) and Caeté River (8.98%).

CONCLUSION

The profile of care at OLCH showed a high incidence of solid malignancies compared to that in other regions of Brazil, indicating environmental and sociocultural influences on the carcinogenic profile present in the eastern Amazon.

Pap smears in the extreme South of Brazil: low coverage and exposure of the most vulnerable pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

To estimate prevalence, assess trends and identify factors associated with non-performance of Pap smears among postpartum women residing in Rio Grande, Southern Brazil.

METHODS

Between 01/01 and 12/31 of 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019, previously trained interviewers applied a single standardized questionnaire at the hospital to all postpartum women residing in this municipality. It was investigated from the planning of pregnancy to the immediate postpartum period. The outcome consisted of not performing a Pap smear in the last three years. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions and assess trends, and Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment in the multivariate analysis. The measure of effect was the prevalence ratio (PR).

RESULTS

Although 80% of the 12,415 study participants had performed at least six prenatal consultations, 43.0% (95%CI 42.1-43.9%) had not been screened in the period. This proportion ranged from 64.0% (62.1-65.8%) to 27.9% (26.1-29.6%). The adjusted analysis showed a higher PR for not performing Pap smears among younger puerperal women, living without a partner, with black skin color, lower schooling, and family income, who did not have paid work during pregnancy or planned pregnancy, who attended fewer prenatal consultations. smoked during pregnancy and were not being treated for any illness.

CONCLUSION

Despite the improvement in coverage, the observed rate of non-performance of Pap smears is still high. Women most likely to have cervical cancer were those who had the highest PR for not having this test.

Evaluation of histopathological examinations of the cervix diagnosed as "other neoplasms" on the Cancer Information System, Brazil, 2013-2020: a descriptive study

OBJECTIVE

to describe and reclassify cervical histopathology test result diagnoses recorded as other neoplasms on the Cancer Information System (SISCAN), Brazil, 2013-2020.

METHODS

this was a descriptive study based on diagnoses input to the "other malign neoplasms" field on the SISCAN; a pathologist assessed the diagnoses and reclassified them based on the categories existing on the standardized record form; absolute and relative frequencies of incorrectly recorded diagnoses were calculated.

RESULTS

histopathology test results registered as "other malign neoplasms" accounted for 2.4% (n = 5,778) of all records, 67.4% of which in fact fell into categories already existing on the form, 8.9% were indeed other neoplasms and 24.5% were results not compatible with other neoplasms and were not covered by the form categories, such as benign findings or findings outside the cervix.

CONCLUSION

the "other malignant neoplasms" field is frequently misused on the SISCAN; the analysis highlighted the need to train professionals to use the system properly, as well as the need to include new categories on the form.