Mammographic Screening of Women Attending a Reference Service Center in Southern Brazil

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP 2016, Vol.17 (3), p.1385-1391
• Main Authors: Lopes, Tiara Cristina Romeiro, Gravena, Angela Andreia Franca, de Oliveira Demitto, Marcela, Brischiliari, Sheila Cristina Rocha, Borghesan, Deise Helena Pelloso, Agnolo, Catia Millene Dell, de Barros Carvalho, Maria Dalva, Pelloso, Sandra Marisa
• Format: Article
• Language: Korean
• ISSN: 1513-7368; 2476-762X

Background: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with performance of annual mammography by women above 40 years of age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at an oncology reference service in Southern Brazil from October 2013 to October 2014 with 525 women aged 40 years or older. Results: The prevalence of annual mammography was 54.1%; annual mammographic screening was performed for women without private medical insurance, who were under hormone replacement therapy and who had used contraception in the past. An association was found between non-performance of breast clinical and self-examination and non-performance of mammographic screening. Conclusions: Use of mammography for breast cancer screening in the public health care setting proved to be accessible; nevertheless, the proportion of screened women was low, and they exhibited poor adherence to the basic measures of care recommended for breast assessment. Thus, control of breast cancer requires implementing actions targeting the population most vulnerable to non-adherence to screening in addition to continuously monitoring and assessing that population to reduce the prevalence of this disease.