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Objective: to understand the care practices of nurses focused on women's health in PHC. Methods: This is cross-sectional research with a quantitative-qualitative approach, carried out with 24 nurses from Primary Health Care in the state of Sergipe. The interviews were conducted from December 2020 to April 2021, using a semi-structured script. The analysis of the quantitative data occurred in a descriptive way, the qualitative one occurred through content analysis according to Bardin. Results: The practices most frequently mentioned by the interviewees were: prenatal nursing consultation; Pap smear and syndromic approach to sexually transmitted infections, clinical examination of the breasts and request for mammography; In family planning, health education was highlighted; In the postpartum period, they commented on the clinical and obstetric evaluation of the woman and the orientations. Conclusion: Nurses act mainly as fundamental agents in the promotion and prevention of women's health, acting in various phases of women's lives and assisting in the maintenance of health and in the prevention of risks and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, during the pandemic caused by COVID-19, screening for breast and cervical cancers was postponed or interrupted due to the prevailing health conditions. These neoplasms, however, are responsible for high morbidity and mortality among women in Brazil and have a major impact on the quality of life of this population and public health. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the epidemiological behavior of hospitalization for cervical and breast cancer in Brazilian women, as well as the trend of screening tests of breast and cervical cancer in the years 2010 to 2022 according to the regions of Brazil. This is ecological research of time series, based on secondary data obtained from information systems of the country, about hospital admissions for breast and cervical cancer and screening methods used for these tumors. The data were analyzed in the Joinpoint Regression Program, to obtain the linear regression and temporal analysis of the variables. As a result, between 2010 and 2022, the rates of mammography varied from 36 to 71 exams, while in the pap smear, the variations were 126 and 226 cytopathological exams per 1000 women. Hospitalizations for these cancers peaked in 2019, with 48 hospitalizations for cervical cancer per 100,000 women and 147 hospitalizations for breast cancer for the same population. For both, in the pandemic years, between 2020 and 2022, there is a decrease in Brazil and in all its regions. As for the tracking of these diseases, it was observed that the performance of mammograms and preventive tests showed a similar behavior, in which there is a higher supply of these tests until 2019 and a drop during the pandemic period. This leads to the conclusion that even though Brazil has several policies for the screening of these diseases, there is still instability in the offering of these tests and that there was instability in this area during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the frequency of abnormal cervical cytological results with and without representation of the transformation zone (TZ) in a medium-sized city in Brazil according to the Bethesda categorization. We performed an analytical observational study evaluating cytological results over 15 years from conventional smears collected within the Public Brazilian Health System in Araçatuba, Brazil. Tests were stratified by age and cytological result according to Brazilian guidelines and the Bethesda System. There were 261,881 examinations, 159,251 with and 102,630 without TZ representation. The global frequency of abnormal results was higher in smears with TZ representation (crude odds ratio [OR] 4.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] [3.71–4.38]). Considering only women between 25 and 64 years (the target of the national guidelines), there were higher results for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (OR 11.54; 95% CI 6.74–19.78), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (OR 2.82; 95% CI 2.17–3.67) atypical squamous cell in which high-grade intraepithelial lesion cannot be excluded (OR 6.90; 95% CI 4.91–9.66) and atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (OR 3.53; 95% CI 3.11–4.01) among cases with TZ representation. Samples with TZ representation were associated with higher rates of abnormal results. Health professionals should be regularly trained to understand the weakness of cytological examinations when the TZ is not represented, especially in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Enfermagem e Atenção à Saúde (REAS) is the property of Revista de Enfermagem e Atencao a Saude - Reas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Paulista de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The United States (U.S.) has a growing population of Brazilian immigrant women. However, limited research has explored Pap tests and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among this population., Methods: Participants completed an online survey between July-August 2020. Bivariate analyses examined associations between healthcare-related variables (e.g., insurance, having a primary care provider) and demographics (e.g., age, education, income, marital status, years living in the U.S., primary language spoken at home) with 1) Pap test recency (within the past 3 years) and 2) HPV vaccination (0 doses vs. 1 + doses). Variables significant at p < 0.10 in bivariate analyses were included in multivariable logistic regression models examining Pap test recency and HPV vaccination., Results: The study found that 83.7% of the sample had a Pap test in the past three years. Women who did not know their household income were less likely to be than women who reported a household income of < $25,000 (adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.95). Women who had seen a healthcare provider in the past year were more likely to have had a Pap test within the last three years than those who had not seen a provider in the past year ([aOR] = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.47). Regarding HPV vaccination, 30.3% of respondents reported receiving one or more doses of the HPV vaccine. The multivariable logic regression models determined that women aged 27 -45 (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.67) were less likely than women aged 18-26 to have been vaccinated against HPV). and that women with a PCP were more likely to be vaccinated than those without a PCP (aOR = 2.47. 95% CI:1.30, 4.59)., Conclusion: This study found that Brazilian immigrant women in the youngest age groups (21 - 29) for Pap test, 18- 26 for HPV vaccination) had somewhat better rates of Pap screening and HPV vaccination than the general U.S., Population: This study adds new information about cervical cancer prevention and control behaviors among Brazilian immigrant women., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: According to the Brazilian Guidelines on Cervical Cancer Screening, women with cytopathologic diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial lesion, abnormal colposcopic findings, fully visible squamocolumnar junction and age 25 years or older should be treated at the first visit ("see and treat-S&T"). The main limitation to this approach is the risk of overtreatment, identified by histology without preinvasive lesion. The objectives of this study were to identify the overtreatment rate in women undergoing S&T in cervical cancer prevention at a referral center with extensive experience with the method and to detect possible factors associated with this rate.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that analyzed records from a database with 616 women submitted to S&T from 1996 to 2017. Negative histology was defined as the following histopathologic results: human papillomavirus without cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), inflammatory, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and CIN 1.Results: Of the 616 women, there were 52 (8.44%, 95%CI 6.25-10.64%) with a histopathologic report without preinvasive cervical lesion. No statistical association was found between this outcome and age or a significant downward trend over time.Conclusion: The overtreatment rate in this study can be considered low and consistent with the acceptable rates reported in the literature, reinforcing the prevailing Brazilian guideline, in which the benefits of immediate treatment outweigh the risk of losses following biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of the current study was to analyze the health outcomes of women attending with a clinical guideline to consultations for cervical cancer (CC) prevention in a primary care center. Methods: A cross‐sectional design was used, and data were collected from March to July 2016 with a sample of 87 women in Fortaleza, Brazil. Results: The following correlations were found: previous history of sexually transmitted infection (p = 0.025), women who used oral contraceptives (p = 0.035), and undergo the Papanicolaou test annually; having black skin color (p = 0.031) and attending to the first gynecological consultation; being single (p = 0.031), family history of cancer (p < 0.001), and undergoing the first Papanicolaou test within the first 3 years of sexual activity; age up to 30 years and positive colposcopy (p = 0.027); and being single and positive colposcopy (p = 0.021). CC was characterized by the presence of intraepithelial lesion detected on colposcopy (gold standard). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of visual inspection with Lugol's iodine, digital cervicography, and Papanicolaou test. The area under the curve values were as follows: digital cervicography: 0.558, p = 0.509; Lugol's iodine: 0.491, p = 0.919; and Papanicolaou test: 0.697, p = 0.024. Conclusion: Colposcopy in primary care provided a faster diagnosis of pre‐cancerous lesions. Understanding the health outcomes of women who underwent consultations for CC prevention, as well as the screening and diagnosis methods used, is essential to the service and national health system of the less developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify reasons among Brazilian women for never having a Pap test. Design: We designed a cross‐sectional study that used data from the National Health Survey. Sample: Two thousand four hundred and two women 25–64 years old who never had a pap test. Measures: Variables were age, race, education, marital status, housing condition, primary health care access, health insurance, self‐perceived health, and social support network. We calculated the prevalence of different reasons and odds ratios for each. Results: The most frequent reason for never having a test were linked to women thinking the test was unnecessary (42.3%) which had a significant association with marital status (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.07–1.91), age (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.21–1.99), area of residence (OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.02–1.39), having a health insurance (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.01–1.36), and self‐perceived health (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.28–1.56). The second most frequent reason was not knowing they needed a test (22.9%) which was associated with age (OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.74–2.16) and self‐perceived health (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.33–1.80). Conclusions: The findings suggest lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and its prevention among Brazilian women. We consider it essential that the health service can provide the test, as well as the necessary guidelines for raising the awareness of the target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study aims to analyse changes in the prevalence of cervical cancer (CCa) and breast cancer (BCa) screening among women in the Brazilian capitals and Federal District in the last decade (2007–16). Methods Data from the surveillance system of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases through telephone interviews (n  = 267 949) were used. Adequate screening consisted of, at least, one Pap test triennially, for women aged between 25 and 64 years, and mammography exam biannually, for women aged between 50 and 69 years. The prevalence of adequate screening was investigated for each type of cancer isolated and combined (women aged between 50 and 64 years). The prevalence of adequate screening was estimated for the total population and according to socioeconomic variables. Linear regression models were used. Results The prevalence of adequate screening test for CCa remained stable, around 82%, while the screening test for BCa increased from 71 to 78% between 2007 and 2016. Higher increases were observed among women with low schooling and from less developed regions. The percentage of adequate screening (considering both types), for women aged between 25 and 69 years, remained stable, close to 78%. Conclusions Screening for BCa increased significantly. Smaller coverage rates are verified among women with low schooling and from less developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the acceptability of high-risk human papillomavirus self-testing, involving community health workers, for never/under-screened Brazilian women. Cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among adult women in a large number of low-income and lower-middle-income countries, where it remains a major public health problem. High-risk human papillomavirus persistence is required for the development of cervical neoplasia. Methods: The target population was all women aged 30+ from the list of families available in healthcare centre data, who had never been screened or were not screened in the previous 3 years (under-screened women), and who were living in the 17 cities included in this study. Results: Of the 377 women included, 16.9% (n = 64) had never had a pap smear. Of all samples included in the study, 97.1% (n = 366) were considered adequate for evaluation, as 2.9% (n = 11) were considered invalid for all high-risk human papillomavirus types. Analysing these 366 samples, 9.6% (n = 35) of the women were infected by at least one high-risk human papillomavirus type and 90.4% (n = 331) had no infection with any high-risk type of the virus. Conclusions: Vaginal self-sampling is an adequate strategy to improve the effectiveness of the cervical cancer program by increasing screening in a high-risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aim to describe the history of iodine testing of the cervix and identify areas where further work is required.Study Design: We conducted a search of PubMed and Google Scholar. Full article texts were reviewed. Reference lists were screened for additional articles and books. 37 basic articles in journals including ones written in German and three basic articles in books were identified.Results: Glycogen staining of the ectocervical squamous epithelium with iodine goes back to Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915). Walter Schiller (1887-1960) examined nearly 200 different dyes and found that vital staining of the cervical squamous epithelium was best achieved with Lugol's iodine solution, which was indicated by Jean Guillaume Lugol (1786-1851) for disinfection of the vagina. In 1928 W. Lahm observed that the glycogen content of a squamous epithelium cell decreases as anaplasia increases. From the outset, H. Hinselmann included the iodine test in the minimum requirements for colposcopy. In 1946 H. J. Wespi first mentioned the finding of an "uncharacteristic iodine negative area." The first international colposcopic terminology from Graz in 1975 lists the "iodine light area" among the different colposcopy findings. The IFCPC nomenclatures from Rome 1990, Barcelona 2002, and Rio de Janeiro 2011 have evaluated the iodine test and classified their findings differently. A breakthrough to effective cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings in Africa, India, and Latin America was achieved with R. Sankaranarayanan's publication on naked-eye visual inspection of the cervix after application of Lugol's iodine.Conclusions: This paper is a step toward a better understanding of what we think and do today with iodine testing and what problems and upcoming tasks will arise in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infections are the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. The latter has contributed to a variety of adverse outcomes for both sexes. Moreover, in Brazil, epidemiological studies on patients with STIs are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of TV and its association with HPV in women undergoing cervical cancer screening.Methods: Women with a normal cervix were recruited from a community-based cervical cancer screening program. Gynecological examinations were conducted, and questionnaires were provided. Vaginal canal and uterine cervix samples were collected for cytological examinations (reported using the 2001 Bethesda System) and tested for the presence of TV and HPV DNA.Results: In total, 562 women who attended public primary healthcare were included in the study. The T. vaginalis was present in 19.0% (107) and HPV DNA was present in 46.8% (263) of women. Among the women of TV 73.8% (79) had a co-infection with HPV (p = 0.001).Conclusions: We concluded that a TV infection is associated with an HPV infection of the cervix as well as with the cervical cytological abnormalities. Further studies could reveal the mechanisms by which these two organisms interact at the cellular level, with control for shared behavioral risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate the coverage of the cervical cytopathological test. Method: exploratory-descriptive study with quantitative approach, whose unit of analysis was the Health District of Brotas of the city of Salvador, Bahia. The study estimated the actual and potential coverage of the cervical cytopathological test performed in Primary Health Care in 2018. To estimate the coverage, the standard was established based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health. The data were obtained from the Monitoring Worksheet of Cervical Cytopathological Test of the district provided by the Municipal Health Department. Results: there was low coverage in the analyzed period, with real coverage of 11.76% and potential coverage of 46.11%. Conclusion: the low coverage of the cervical cytopathological test may be related to the small growth of the service offer due to the insufficient expansion of Primary Care in the city of Salvador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in Brazil and around the world. Its screening through the Pap smear screening is crucial for prevention and early detection. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the Pap smear ratio in the regions of the State of Rio Grande do Norte from 2008 to 2014, and to describe the regions with lower and higher screening for cervical cancer according to the space. Methods: It is a quantitative, retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study that used secondary data from SISCOLO/DATASUS. The sample was composed by the 167 municipalities of the State of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, divided by the eight regions of that State. The results were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies, the differences between means were analyzed by the T student tests, in which significant differences were considered when p<0.05. The mapping of results was done through the TabWin program 32. Conclusion: The average ratio of Pap smear varied considerably between the regions of the State in the years 2008 to 2014. There was decrease in the average of the ratio between the years 2008 and 2014, especially in the metropolitan region. Regarding the space, it was seen that most of the municipalities with the lower ratio are located at the ends of the map. Knowing the cytopathological ratio indicator in the regions of the State is fundamental for the management of health in that State, in order to better qualify practitioners and to establish specific goals for the evaluation of coverage of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Papanicolaou test (Pap smear) is the standard screening test of pre‐neoplastic lesions and cervical cancer. This study aimed to investigate cervical cancer screening results and risk factors such as age, reason for the examination, the epithelia detected in the sample, microbiota and signs of sexually transmitted infection (STIs) of women in a maternity school in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, data were retrieved of 353 women who underwent Pap smear between April 2016 and January 2017 at the Federal University of Ceará. Results: Of all Pap smear samples retrieved, 54.1% (191/353) had glandular epithelium and 40.2% (142/353) had metaplastic epithelium. After statistical analyses adjusted for the final model, age ≥51 years (odds ratio = 3.47) and signs of STIs (odds ratio = 4.95) remained as risk factors. Conclusions: The diagnosis of high‐grade lesions and carcinomas in patients older than 50 years indicates a deficiency in cervical screening. Women with signs and symptoms of STIs and candidiasis sought medical services more frequently than asymptomatic women, and presence of these signs and symptoms contributes to the diagnosis of cervical cancer. We highlight the importance of obtaining a correct smear sampling to allow prompt detection of all preneoplastic lesions; moreover, the implementation of human papillomavirus vaccination and an efficient routine Pap screening are necessary in low‐resource settings. The diagnosis of high‐grade lesions and carcinomas in patients older than 50 years is less sensitive than in younger women in cervical screening in Brazil. Women with signs of STI (without HPV) seek medical services more frequently than asymptomatic women, and some of these have cervical cancer. Implementation of HPV vaccination and an efficient routine Pap screening are particularly necessary in low‐resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of cervical pre-malignancies in the cervical cytology of female renal transplant recipients (RTR) and compare to immunocompetent patients.Methods: A prospective case-control study of 165 RTR (cases) and 372 immunocompetent women (controls) was carried out from May 2015 to August 2016. The participants completed a questionnaire with demographic characteristics, habits, reproductive history, and information about the renal transplant. Cervical cytology samples were collected at their visit for cervical cancer screening. Relevant medical history was obtained from medical records and previous cervical cytology results were retrieved: from the time of kidney transplantation to the beginning of this study for RTR and all collected throughout life for controls.Results: The mean age was similar between groups (42.6 ± 11.4 vs. 41.8.2 ± 11.1 years, p = 0.447). Considering cervical cytology collected since the kidney transplant, RTR had three times higher rates of abnormal cervical cytology test (24.8% of RTR vs. 6.3% for controls), and the abnormalities were more frequent (p < 0.001) for low squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (n = 23, 13.9%) and high squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (n = 9, 5.5%). Cervical cytology collected during the study had normal results in 152 RTR (92.1%) vs. 326 controls (93.9%) (p > 0.05). When the altered results were broken down, a higher frequency of LSIL could be seen in RTR (3.6% vs 0.0%, p = 0.008).Conclusion: RTR had significantly higher rates of cervical cytology abnormalities comparing to the control group and most of it was composed of LSIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the demonstrated role of human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of cervical cancer and the strong evidence suggesting the importance of HPV in the development of oropharyngeal cancer, several aspects of the interrelationship between HPV infection in both body sites remain unknown, specifically in female human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive (HIV+) patients. We aimed to assess the prevalence, distribution, and concordance of cervical and oral HPV in HIV+ women and matched HIV-negative (HIV-) controls in Brazil. Material and methods: Cervical and endocervical samples for cytological screening and HPV detection and oral samples were collected from 115 HIV+ women using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 139 HIV-matched controls (HIV-) in Maringá City, Brazil. Risk factors were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and the data regarding HIV infection were obtained from the patients' medical records. HPV detection and typing were performed using the Kit Multiplex XGEN Multi HPV Chip HS12. Results: HIV infection was well controlled in this cohort, but women who exhibited detectable HIV loads were significantly associated with HPV-positive status overall (P = 0.03) and in cervical mucosa (P = 0.01). HIV+ women had significantly more abnormal cytological findings (P = 0.04) than HIV- women. Of the 115 HIV+ women, 48.7% were positive for cervical and/or oral HPV DNA; of the 139 HIV- women, 41% were positive for cervical and/or oral HPV (P = 0.25). Both HIV+ and HIV- women had a statistically higher prevalence of cervical HPV infection than oral infection. The concurrent HPV infection in two anatomical sites was similar in HIV+ and HIV- women; however, HPV type concordance was not observed. HPV type distribution was different between the anatomical sites in both groups, and HIV+ women presented less common types, mainly in oral mucosa. Conclusion: Our data support the importance of testing HPV infection in HIV+ women, even when the HIV infection is well controlled. Prospective studies are required to better understand the natural history of HPV infection in both anatomical sites, specifically in HIV+ women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enfermagem Brasil is the property of Atlantica Editora and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cervical cancer (CC) is a public health problem with a high disease burden and mortality in developing countries. In Brazil, areas with low human development index have the highest incidence rates of Brazil and upward temporal trend for this disease. The Northeast region has the second highest incidence of cervical cancer (20.47 new cases / 100,000 women). In this region, the mortality rates are similar to rates in countries that do not have a health system with a universal access screening program, as in Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of age, period and birth cohorts on mortality from cervical cancer in the Northeast region of Brazil. Estimable functions predicted the effects of age, period and birth cohort. The average mortality rate was 10.35 deaths per 100,000 women during the period analyzed (1980–2014). The highest mortality rate per 100,000 women was observed in Maranhão (24.39 deaths), and the lowest mortality rate was observed in Bahia (11.24 deaths). According to the period effects, only the state of Rio Grande do Norte showed a reduction in mortality risk in the five years of the 2000s. There was a reduction in mortality risk for birth cohorts of women after the 1950s, except in Maranhão State, which showed an increasing trend in mortality risk for younger generations. We found that the high rates of cervical cancer mortality in the states of northeastern Brazil remain constant over time. Even after an increase in access to health services in the 2000s, associated with increased access to the cancer care network, which includes early detection (Pap Test), cervical cancer treatment and palliative care. However, it is important to note that the decreased risk of death and the mortality rates from CC among women born after the 1960s may be correlated with increased screening coverage, as well as increased access to health services for cancer treatment observed in younger women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to investigate the occurrence of vulvovaginal infections, to describe and to relate the hygiene habits of women who were treated at the Units of Primary Attention to Family Health in a municipality in the interior of Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out in two Primary Health Care Units of the Family of UberlÃndia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The population sample consisted of 100 women who underwent gynecological consultation in the health units. Data were collected through interviews and by the analysis of medical records. Results were reported according to laboratory reports. Results: The participants' ages ranged from 18 to 45 years, with a median of 36 years. Thirty women (30%) presented alterations in the microbiota from a Pap smear, where bacterial vaginosis (diagnosed with Amsel criteria) was the predominant microorganism (83.3%). More than half of the women in the study who had vulvovaginitis wore cotton panties (70%, p = 0.651) and tight jeans/pants (83.3%, p = 0.010). The habit of depilating the genital area was reported by all the women, with the razor blade being the most commonly used tool (68%; p = 0.196). Conclusion: Bacterial vaginosis was the most commonly reported infection in the cytological exams. Care with genitalia and genital hygiene habits may be associated with the occurrence of vulvovaginitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ciencia, Cuidado e Saude is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with better tumor‐response rates and survival outcomes. However, in some geographic regions, the impact of HPV infection on prognosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the patterns of recurrence and survival among patients treated for OPSCC in a geographic region with a reported low prevalence of HPV‐related OPSCC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 215 patients diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages I to IV OPSCC who were treated with upfront surgery or radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy in a tertiary Cancer Center in Brazil. The collected data included demographic information, HPV status, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and pathologic and treatment variables. The patterns of recurrence were recorded according to HPV status. Disease‐specific survival and recurrence‐free survival were calculated. Results: One hundred twenty‐seven (59.1%) patients were diagnosed with HPV‐positive OPSCC. According to the AJCC eighth edition, 34 (15.8%), 71 (33%), 47 (21.9%), and 60 (27.9%) patients had stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively. Surgery was performed in 109 (50.7%) cases, and upfront chemoradiation regimens were provided in 104 (48.4%, P =.69) patients. Overall, the 5‐year cancer‐specific survival was 73.5% and 68.1% for patients positive and negative to HPV, respectively. Tobacco status was considered the only independent prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, HPV status was not associated with differences in recurrence rates (P =.68). While all distant relapses were found to be lung metastases in the HPV‐negative group, we observed unusual sites of distant metastases in the HPV‐positive group. Conclusions: HPV status was not associated with higher rates of survival among the investigated population. Moreover, smoking status was considered the only independent prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, patients with HPV‐positive tumors were more likely than patients with HPV‐negative OPSCC to have unusual distant metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances en Enfermería is the property of Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To apprehend the knowledge of women about cervical cancer prevention through a Pap smear. Methodology: A qualitative study carried out in a Basic Health Unit of a city in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil, from a semi - structured interview, recorded with a population of 20 women. The data were analyzed by the discourse of the collective subject and based on the theory of social representation. Results: Women reported feelings of discomfort, discomfort, shame and fear. As for knowledge, they were deficient in relation to the purpose of the examination and to the disease itself. Conclusion: It can be seen that the lack of knowledge can intervene in the adhesion to the Pap smear by women, highlighting the importance of the educational practice as a tool in this prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to evaluate cellular alterations due to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the microflora of the cytopathological test of SUS patients in São Leopoldo-RS. METHODOLOGY: ecological study on a database from 2006-2014. The variables studied included changes in the microflora, changes caused by the HPV and sociodemographic changes. RESULTS: the screening coverage of the estimated cervical cancer was 14.6%. Gardenerella vaginallis was the most frequent pathogenic microorganism (16.1%), and among the HPV-related alterations, atypical alterations represented 1.7%, Low Grade Intraepithelial Lesions, 0.96%, and High Grade Intraepithelial Lesions, 0.22%. DISCUSSION: the results of the changes in Pap smears are in line with the data observed in the literature; however, it should be emphasized that the coverage estimates do not fulfil the Brazilian determinations. Conclusion: the available databases allow an analysis of the local reality. Nevertheless, for this to be feasible, it is necessary to correct them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ciencia, Cuidado e Saude is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to test the effects of a behavioral, an educative and a comparative intervention on women's adherence to the return appointment to receive the pap test report. Methods: randomized controlled clinical trial at a Primary Health Care Service, involving three groups: EG (educative session and test demonstration), BG (recall ribbon) and standard intervention (card containing the return appointment - graphical reminder), called comparative group here (CG). To select the sample, the following was established: having started sexual activity and undergoing the pap smear during the study, resulting in 775 women. Results: among the 775 women, 585 (75.5%) returned to receive the test result within 65 days. The educative group presented the highest return rate (EG = 82%/CG = 77%/BG = 66%), statistically significant only when compared to the behavioral group (p=0.000). The educative group obtained the smallest interval (p<0.05) concerning the mean number of days of return to receive the test result (EG:M=43days/BG:M=47.5days/CG:M=44.8 days). Conclusion: the educative group reached higher return rates and the women returned earlier, but the behavioral intervention showed to be the least effective. Brazilian Clinical Trial Register: RBR-93ykhs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mass population screening for the early detection of cervical and breast cancer has been shown to be a safe and effective strategy worldwide and has reduced the incidence and mortality rates of these diseases. The aim of this study is to analyse the reach of screening tests for cervical and breast cancer according to sociodemographic variables and to analyse their correlation with a healthy lifestyle. Methods: We have analysed data collected from 31.845 women aged 18 and over, who were interviewed for the Brazilian National Health Survey, a nationwide household inquiry, which took place between August 2013 and February 2014. The Pap tests performed in the last 3 years in women aged between 25 and 64 and screening mammogram performed in the last 2 years in women aged between 50 and 69 were considered adequate. We identified habits that constitute a healthy lifestyle, such as the consumption of five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, 30 min or more of leisurely physical activity and not smoking. Results: We observed that the Pap test (78.8 %) was more widespread than the screening mammogram (54.5 %), with significant geographical and social differences concerning access to health care. Access for such screening was higher for women living in more developed regions (Southeast and South), who were white-skinned, better educated, living with a partner and, especially, who were covered by private health insurance. Those who underwent the tests according to established protocols also had a healthy lifestyle, which corroborates the healthy behaviour pattern of damage prevention. Conclusion: Despite the progress made, social disparity still defines access to screening tests for cervical and breast cancer, with women covered by private health insurance tending to benefit the most. It is necessary to reduce social and regional inequalities and ensure a more uniform provision and access to the tests, especially for socially disadvantaged women, in order to reduce the incidence and mortality rate resulting from the aforementioned diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: evaluate the assistance flow of the cancer prevention program for cervical a unit of the Family Health Strategy, a health program of the Brazilian government, Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,031 women registered at the health care unit in Sapucaia do Sul, southern of Brazil.. Data were collected from registration forms of the Brazilian Unified Health System, and record books of Papanicolaou tests from 2012 to 2015, and data was entered into spreadsheet. The analysis, according to descriptive statistics, was made in Excel 2010 software. . Results: They shown that mean age was 43.17 years for the 1,031 women under study. Of these, 64.5% did not undergo preventive exams for uterine cancer throughout the period of the 3-year interval recommended for women to undergo the exam. Conclusion: The coverage of the Papanicolaou test is much lower than recommended, with an evident need to improve screening for uterine cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ciencia, Cuidado e Saude is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to understand women's perception about the Pap Smear Test. Methodology: a qualitative and descriptive study which took place at a university campus, in Rio de Janeiro, from July/2014 to August/2015. The participants were 12 women, between 18 and 45 years, which attended this university. Semi-structured interviews were performed and the data was analyzed according to the Thematic Content Analysis. Results: The data was organized into two categories: "Perceiving the procedure as uncomfortable" which was divided into three sub-categories: "relating the discomfort to the procedure itself", "relating the discomfort to the feeling of embarrassment/shame" and "perceiving the link with the professional as a way to reduce the discomfort" and: "Perceiving the pap smear test as a form of health care". Conclusion: women perceive the Pap smear test as uncomfortable, but understand the need and the importance of the health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to verify the association among the knowledge attitude and practice of women in relation to the smear test and the age range. Method: a cross-sectional research was undertaken, associated with the knowledge, attitude and practice survey at a Primary Health Care service. The sample consisted of 775 women, distributed in three age ranges: adolescent, young and elderly. Results: although high rates of inappropriate knowledge were found in all age ranges, it was significantly higher among the adolescents (p = 0.000). A similar trend was found in the attitude component, with percentages of inappropriateness in adolescence that drop as age advances (p=0.000). Nevertheless, no statistical difference among the groups was found in terms of practice (p=0.852). Conclusion: the study demonstrated a relation between the age range and knowledge, attitude and practice of the smear test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical samples of pregnant and non-pregnant women in South-Brazil.Methods: A prospective study of 91 pregnant and 92 non-pregnant women with no previous history of cervical dysplasia or cancer was carried out. Cervical samples for HPV testing and cytology were collected in each trimester of pregnancy and in the puerperium for pregnant women and at matched intervals for the non-pregnant women. All samples were analyzed through PCR with consensus primers GP5+/GP6+. Genotyping was performed using specific primers. To control for confounding factors, the analysis of multivariate logistic regression was applied. The measure of odds ratio (OR) and the 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were used. The level of statistical significance was set at 5 % (P ≤ 0.05).Results: HPV DNA was detected in 23/91 (25.3 %) cervical samples from the pregnant women and in 12/92 (13 %) cervical samples from non-pregnant women (P = 0.035). There was a significant association among cervical HPV infection and young age, number of lifetime sexual partners, and the presence of abnormal cervical cytology. HPV16 and HPV18 were the viral types more frequently detected. Out of the 23 HPV-positive pregnant women, 17 (73.9 %) had normal cervical cytology.Conclusion: Our results suggest a higher prevalence of HPV infection in pregnant vs. non-pregnant women. This finding may be related to the relative immunosuppression observed in pregnant women, outlining the importance of the appropriate monitoring of the viral infection in this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate factors associated with gynecology health professionals' failure to perform clinical breast examinations (CBEs) during clinical visits.Methods: A cross-sectional, interview-based survey was conducted in 2010 among women aged at least 18 years who had undergone a cervical smear in 2007 at primary-care units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Binomial regression was used to generate prevalence ratios and absolute differences between visits for routine examinations or gynecologic complaints.Results: Analyses included 982 women, of whom 182 (18.5%) did not have a CBE during their visit. Significant interactions were observed between age and primary reason for the visit: the prevalence ratio for no CBE during a visit for gynecologic complaints versus routine examination was 3.2 for women aged at least 40 years, and 1.3 among younger women (P for multiplicative interaction=0.001). Absolute differences were 6.4% and 18.5% for younger and older women, respectively (P for additive interaction=0.04).Conclusion: A high proportion of eligible women do not undergo a CBE during cervical smear appointments at primary-care units in Rio de Janeiro, particularly older women presenting with gynecologic complaints. Understanding of health professionals' barriers to following and implementing guidelines for secondary prevention of breast cancer is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parity is well established as a risk factor for cervical cancer. It is not clear, however, how pregnancy influences the natural history of HPV infection and cervical neoplasia. Our objective was to study the risk of HPV infection and cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) after pregnancy.Methods: We used the Ludwig-McGill cohort study which includes 2462 women recruited in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1993-97 and followed for up to 10 years. Cellular specimens were collected every 4-6 months for Pap cytology and HPV detection and genotyping by a polymerase chain reaction protocol. Study nurses recorded pregnancy occurrence during follow-up. HPV and Pap results from pregnant women were available before and after, but not during pregnancy. The associations between pregnancy and post-partum HPV infection/SIL were studied using generalized estimating equation models with logistic link. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were estimated with empirical adjustment for confounding.Results: We recorded 122 women with a history of pregnancy during follow-up. Of these, 29 reintegrated the cohort study after delivery. No association between HPV and pregnancy was found. A single SIL case (high grade SIL) occurred post-partum. Likewise, there was no association between pregnancy and risk of low grade SIL or any-grade SIL at the next visit (adjusted OR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.46-15.33) after controlling for confounders.Conclusions: No associations were found between pregnancy and HPV or LSIL. The single observed case of HSIL post-partum was more than would be expected based on the rate of these abnormalities among non-pregnant women. As this association was found with only one case, caution is required in the interpretation of these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in Brazil and has a high potential for prevention and cure. The prevalence of invasive and preinvasive disease in women with cytological diagnosis of high-grade lesion - cannot exclude microinvasion (HSIL-micro) is not known.Methods: This cross-sectional study used a cytology lab database to identify women with HSIL-micro and HSIL referred to two colposcopic units from June 2006 to December 2012. For each woman with HSIL-micro, four women with cytologic diagnosis of HSIL who met the inclusion criteria were identified. Data were obtained from review of medical records.Results: Forty-seven patients with report of HSIL-micro and 188 patients with report of HSIL were included. The final diagnoses revealed a frequency of preinvasive lesions of 31.9 % (15/47) and 59.6 % (112/188) in patients with HSIL-micro and HSIL, respectively, while the frequency of invasive disease was 63.8 % (30/47) and 11.7 % (22/188), respectively. The HSIL-micro group showed prevalence of preinvasive or invasive disease 6.5 times greater (95 % CI = 1.6-5.7) and, for invasive disease, 2.4 times greater (95 % CI = 1.7-3.6) than the HSIL group.Conclusion: Higher risk of preinvasive and invasive lesions in women with cytologic diagnosis of HSIL-micro reinforces recommendations for immediate investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigacion & Educacion en Enfermeria is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Enfermeria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rev Rene is the property of Rev Rene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to identify the factors related to the failure of women to attend the follow-up consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test. Method: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 775 patients who underwent the Pap smear test in the Centro de Saúde da Família of Fortaleza, between September 2010 and February 2011. Results: the majority of the women studied were young (≤35 years), had low levels of education (≤7 years of study), and commenced sexual activity early ≤ 20 years), with 17.0% of them failing to return to receive the test results. Statistically significant results for the failure to return were related to: young women (p=0.001); early onset of sexual activity (p=0.047); and inadequate knowledge about the Pap smear test (p=0.029). Conclusion the fact that the women failed to return for the result is a problem for the control of cervical cancer and must be addressed through educational strategies that reinforce the importance of the return for the early detection of this cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]