Cytology-Based Screening During Antenatal Care as a Method for Preventing Cervical Cancer

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most serious threats to women's lives. Therefore, the present study aimed to know the dynamics in the collection of cytologic samples during antenatal care as a method of cervical cancer screening and to identify the factors associated with its performance. Material and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out with pregnant and postpartum women in Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. Data were collected using a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic variables, antenatal care, pregnancy and cytology-based screening for cervical cancer during antenatal care. Measures of central tendency were calculated and the Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used with a significance level of 5%. Results: Participants were 229 pregnant women and 89 postpartum women. Age ranged 18 to 43 years, with a mean of 27.9 years (SD=6.1). Only 35 (11%) participants had Pap smears during antenatal care. A total of 283 women did not have Pap smears during pregnancy; of these, 229 (80.9%) did not have the test because of lack of clear information from the health professional, 25 (8.8%) for fear of bleeding or abortion, and 29 (10.3%) because they had had the test before pregnancy. Undergoing cytology-based screening for cervical cancer was associated with high-risk pregnancy (p=0.002), antenatal care provided by a physician (p=0.003), knowledge about the possibility of having the test during pregnancy (p<0.001) and paid job (p=0.043). Conclusion: The percentage of cytology-based screening for cervical cancer during antenatal care was low. Therefore, health education is suggested to improve this figure. However, receiving antenatal care at MEAC, having consultations with a physician, and knowing that it is possible to have a Pap smear during pregnancy were significant protective factors for undergoing cytology screening during pregnancy.

The quality of certification of deaths due to external causes in the city of Fortaleza in the State of Ceará, Brazil.

The article analyzes the quality of information of deaths from external causes in Fortaleza, in the State of Ceará, Brazil. They analyzed the completeness of the information of the death certificate (DO) and the correlation between the underlying cause of death described in the OF and registered in the Mortality Information System (SIM ).We used all the original statements of deaths from external causes, occurred in 2010, of residents in Fortaleza. The study population was 2109 DO. The statements were individually checked seeking to identify the completion of the fields and the basic cause attested the coding of the underlying cause in this DO and compared with the SIM was held. The fields with the highest completion rates were: name (100%), place of residence (100%), mother's name (99.6%), place of birth (99.1%), and sex (98.8%). The fields with the lowest completion rates were: place of occurrence (55%), race/skin color (38.4%), and schooling (34%). They observed inadequacies in the completion of the underlying cause. In DO are reported injuries found and not the circumstances of the death. There was poor level of concordance between the basic cause of DO and registered on the SIM (kappa 0.07). They suggest awareness strategies and training of medical examiners.

Qualidade da informação dos óbitos por causas externas em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil / The quality of certification of deaths due to external causes in the city of Fortaleza in the State of Ceará, Brazil

Resumo O artigo analisa qualidade da informação dos óbitos por causas externas em Fortaleza, Ceará. Analisaram-se a completitude das informações da Declaração de Óbito (DO) e a concordância entre a causa básica do óbito descrita na DO e a registrada no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Utilizaram-se todas as declarações originais dos óbitos por causas externas, ocorridos em 2010, de residentes em Fortaleza. A população do estudo foi de 2109 DO. As declarações foram verificadas individualmente buscando-se identificar o preenchimento dos campos e a causa básica atestada. Foi realizada a codificação da causa básica presente na DO e comparada com a do SIM. Os campos com melhor nível de preenchimento foram: nome (100%), local de residência (100%), nome da mãe (99,6%), naturalidade (99,1%), sexo (98,8%). Os campos com pior nível de preenchimento foram: local de ocorrência (55%), raça/cor (38,4%), escolaridade (34%). Observaram-se inadequações no preenchimento da causa básica. Na DO são relatadas as lesões encontradas e não as circunstâncias do óbito. Observou-se nível de concordância fraca entre a causa básica da DO e a registrada no SIM (kappa 0,07). Sugerem-se estratégias de sensibilização e qualificação dos médicos legistas.

Abstract The article analyzes the quality of information of deaths from external causes in Fortaleza, in the State of Ceará, Brazil. They analyzed the completeness of the information of the death certificate (DO) and the correlation between the underlying cause of death described in the OF and registered in the Mortality Information System (SIM ).We used all the original statements of deaths from external causes, occurred in 2010, of residents in Fortaleza. The study population was 2109 DO. The statements were individually checked seeking to identify the completion of the fields and the basic cause attested the coding of the underlying cause in this DO and compared with the SIM was held. The fields with the highest completion rates were: name (100%), place of residence (100%), mother’s name (99.6%), place of birth (99.1%), and sex (98.8%). The fields with the lowest completion rates were: place of occurrence (55%), race/skin color (38.4%), and schooling (34%). They observed inadequacies in the completion of the underlying cause. In DO are reported injuries found and not the circumstances of the death. There was poor level of concordance between the basic cause of DO and registered on the SIM (kappa 0.07). They suggest awareness strategies and training of medical examiners.