[Evaluation of the frequency of accomplishment of the breast examination and of oncotic cervical cytology and the obstetrical ultrasound during the prenatal period. An inversion of values].
Although ultrasound examination is a frequent procedure during pregnancy, routine use has not been effective to reduce maternal or perinatal morbidity-mortality.


OBJECTIVE
Assess frequency of breast examination and of oncotic cervical cytology among prenatal exams and compare it to frequency of obstetrical ultrasound.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional evaluation conducted in the city of Rio Grande, RS, Brazil between May and July 2007. Data obtained with a structured questionnaire were entered into the Epi-Info 6.04 program and analyzed using the SPSS software.


RESULTS
Among the 230 puerperae interviewed, 99.1% had undergone an ultrasound during pregnancy, while 37.5% and 33.6% had been submitted to clinical examination of the breasts and cervical cytology, respectively. It was noted that a larger number of obstetrical echographies increased the probability that a patient would be submitted to clinical examination of the breasts. On the other hand, the number of cytopathological evaluations of the uterine cervix was not influenced by the number of ultrasound examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Obstetrical echography was given priority and performed as a routine exam, whereas clinical examination of the breasts and cervical cytopathological examination were not, although considered obligatory during the prenatal period. These data confirm the tendency documented in literature indicating an inversion of priorities, favoring ultrasonography over breast examination and cervical pathological exams. For this reason, further studies and evaluations of health programs, also of the real impact of this inversion on the population health indices are recommended.
Gonçalves
Carla Vitola
CV
Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS.
Dias da Costa
Juvenal Soares
JS
Duarte
Geraldo
G
Marcolin
Alessandra Cristina
AC
Lima
Luis Cláudio de Velleca E
LC
Garlet
Geane
G
Bianchi
Mônia Steigleder
MS
Sakai
Alan Felipe
AF
D001940:Breast; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult