Social determinants of health and secondary prevention of cervical cancer in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Study design: This was a cross-sectional and ecological descriptive study. Study objective: Knowing the social determinants of health associated with the secondary prevention of cervical cancer from 2010 to 2014. Methods: The sample included the 62 counties of the state of Amazonas, and secondary data were used from the Cervical Cancer Information System, the Primary Care Information System, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Atlas of Human Development of Brazil. Results: Low coverage of the preventive exam for cervical cancer for women aged 25 to 64 years was found. Also, the age group with the lowest adherence to screening was 60 to 64 years old. The average illiteracy rate among women aged 25 years and over, in the state, was 25.01%, and this indicator correlated with the low coverage of the preventive exam for cervical cancer every year. The low coverage of the Family Health Strategy was also associated with low adherence to screening. The proportion of counties with unsatisfactory samples from the cytopathological examinations was above the goal recommended by the Ministry of Health. Conclusion: Health promotion strategies regarding adherence to screening should consider women’s level of education, and the reinforcement of Primary Health Care based on non-opportunistic screening should be one of the priorities of public policies in the counties of the state.