title: [Pap test coverage and adequacy in the South and Northeast of Brazil].
abstract: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women both in Brazil and elsewhere in the world and can be averted through early detection of precursor lesions. Pap smear is still the most effective and efficient screening test. This study focused on the coverage and adequacy of Pap test and associated factors. The authors adopted a cross-sectional design with a sample of 3,939 women who had given birth in the two previous years in 41 municipalities (counties) of Brazil. Lifetime Pap test coverage was 75.3% (95%CI: 74.0-76.7), and prevalence of adequacy was 70.7% (95%CI: 69.3-72.1). Adequacy was positively associated with age over 25 years, schooling, prenatal care in the last pregnancy, and gynecological visit in the previous year, and was less frequent among primiparous women and those with lower socioeconomic status. It is thus necessary to strengthen preventive measures in vulnerable subgroups and maximize situations for use of health services.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil. michelescorrea@gmail.com
authors.forename: Michele da Silva
authors.initials: Mda S
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Denise Silva da
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Fernando Vinholes
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: Roberto Xavier
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Piccini
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thumé
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult