Maria Cássia Mendes-Corrêa

Critical Evaluation of Pap Test Adherence to Routine Screening in Amazonas State, Brazil

Introduction: This study critically evaluates adherence to Pap test screening practices in cytology-based cervical cancer screening in the state of Amazonas over a 10-year period. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the results of cytological screening examinations (Pap test) in Amazonas State from 2013 to 2023. For this purpose, Brazilian public databases Cervical Cancer Information System (SISCOLO) and Cancer Information System (SISCAN) (from the Department of Information and IT of the Unified Health System [DATASUS]) were consulted. Results: There was a decrease in the number of Pap tests performed during the period from 2019 to 2021, likely related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a subsequent increase in the post-pandemic period. Notably, in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 annual Pap examinations there was a decrease in the average number of tests when comparing the years 2016–2018 to 2013–2015, and an even greater decrease during the pandemic. Conclusions: There is considerable variation in utilization of the cytological Pap test across different municipalities. This lack of uniformity throughout the state likely compromises the capacity to detect early stage cervical intraepithelial lesions.

A critical evaluation of the status of HPV vaccination in São Paulo State, Brazil

Cervical cancer, whose well-recognized etiological agent is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is responsible for approximately 300,000 deaths worldwide, 80% of cases occurring in developing countries. In Brazil, 17,010 cases were expected, with 2,550 cases in São Paulo State, in 2023. The Papanicolaou test is the diagnostic method for the detection of precancerous lesions of the cervix, and HPV vaccination is now available for prevention. This is a descriptive and exploratory, retrospective investigation, carried out through analysis of data obtained from Brazilian Information Technology (DATASUS) of the Brazilian Federal Government: Cancer Information System (SISCAN), Brazilian National Immunization Program (PNI) and Mortality Information System (SIM). Electronic Library and data made available by the Government of the State of São Paulo. The number of women in São Paulo State who underwent cytological examinations and histological tests for cervical cancer decreased between the Years 2013 and 2022. The continuous increase in cervical cancer over the study period was probably due to the lack of adherence to the primary and secondary prevention opportunities offered by the Public Health Authorities.