title: [Factors associated with non-participation in screening for cervical cancer in Southern Brazil].
abstract: Early detection of cervical cancer substantially increases the probability of cure. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with non-participation in cervical cancer screening among women 15 to 49 years of age in Rio Grande, Southern Brazil. A representative survey was carried out using a systematic sample based on a census tract. Trained interviewers used standard, individualized, household questionnaires to interview the women. Data analysis used logistic regression according to a previously determined hierarchical framework. Among 1,302 women interviewed, 57% had never had a Pap smear. The risk factors most closely associated with non-participation in screening were black or brown skin color, young age, low family income, low schooling, living alone, and first childbirth after 25 years of age. Coverage for early detection of cervical cancer was very low. In addition, women at high risk of developing cervical cancer were shown to have a significantly higher risk of non-participation in this type of screening.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-900, Brasil. jacesar@furg.br
authors.forename: Juraci A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cesar
authors.forename: Bernardo L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.forename: Gildo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Ricardo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Houlthausen
authors.forename: Roselane M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Willrich
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaercher
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Iastrenski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D004522:Educational Status; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*