Abr. 2015
Marina Lemle | Blog de HCS-Manguinhos
Detail of Venus of Urbino, 1538. Source: Wickipedia.
Despite the dissemination of preventive measures against cervical cancer, the disease remains a serious health problem in Brazil.
The persistence of the disease, especially in the poorest regions, is the subject of the article “From gynaecology offices to screening campaigns: a brief history of cervical cancer prevention in Brazil”, written by the researcher Antonio Texeira and published in HCS-Manguinhos (vol.22 no.1 Rio de Janeiro Jan./Mar. 2015).
According to Teixeira, less educated women and those living in precarious conditions, with limited access to the public health system are at higher risk of developing the disease.
“Studies show that taking the Pap Test is something related to levels of education. Less educated women tend to go the doctor less often, and to avoid, the Papa Test. They don´t know what it is for, they don’t know it is for cancer, they are afraid of it”, said the researcher.
Another problem, according to him, is the quality of the exam, which in Brazil can be poor. False-negative results put women’s health at risk. Therefore, women are advised to take two exams within one year and then every three years. Modern techniques can soon identify the HPV virus. But those machines are not already available in the Brazilian health system.
Read this full story in Portuguese.
Articles about cancer in HCS-Manguinhos:
Teixeira, Luiz Antonio. From gynaecology offices to screening campaigns: a brief history of cervical cancer prevention in Brazil. Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos, Mar 2015, vol.22, no.1, p.221-239. ISSN 0104-5970
Buschini, José D. La conformación del cáncer como objeto científico y problema sanitario en la Argentina: discursos, prácticas experimentales e iniciativas institucionales, 1903-1922. Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos, Jun 2014, vol.21, no.2, p.457-475. ISSN 0104-5970
Carrillo, Ana María. Entre el ‘sano temor’ y el ‘miedo irrazonable’: la Campaña Nacional Contra el Cáncer en México. Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos, Jul 2010, vol.17, suppl.1, p.89-107. ISSN 0104-5970
Eraso, Yolanda. Migrating techniques, multiplying diagnoses: the contribution of Argentina and Brazil to early ‘detection policy’ in cervical cancer. Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos, July 2010, vol.17, suppl.1, p.33-51. ISSN 0104-5970
Löwy, Ilana. Cancer, women, and public health: the history of screening for cervical cancer. Hist. cienc. saude-Manguinhos, July 2010, vol.17, suppl.1, p.53-67. ISSN 0104-5970
