HPV PREVENTION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN FACING THIS CHALLENGE

Abstract

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly infectious sexually transmitted infection that affects men and women after the onset of sexual activity, and can evolve into oncogenic forms, such as cervical cancer, especially associated with subtypes 16 and 18. In Brazil, this cancer represents the fourth leading cause of death among women, with a higher incidence in the North and Northeast regions. Its evolution is slow and progressive, taking up to 15 years to manifest in severe forms, which reinforces the importance of early diagnosis through the Pap smear test, mainly performed by nurses in Primary Health Care. In this context, the nurse plays an essential role in prevention, through educational activities, information campaigns, and active outreach to women for examinations, contributing to reducing mortality and strengthening public policies aimed at women's health. Objective: To identify the role of the nurse in HPV prevention in Primary Health Care. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review, constituting a descriptive and exploratory study, which followed specific steps for its construction. Data collection was carried out from scientific articles found in the following databases: Virtual Health Library (VHL), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), PubMed - Search System (PubMed). During the search for articles, inclusion criteria were used, including: free articles published in the last 5 years, written in Portuguese. In addition to these criteria, exclusion criteria were used: duplicate articles, articles published more than 5 years ago, and those that do not address the objective of the study. Results and discussion: HPV has a higher incidence in young women and can progress to cervical cancer, especially in the absence of prevention and adequate information. Factors such as early onset of sexual activity, immunosuppression, and smoking increase the risk, while vaccination and access to healthcare services reduce disease progression. The primary care nurse plays a central role in implementing educational and preventive actions, although gaps in population adherence and professional overload still limit the impact of these strategies. Conclusion: HPV remains a significant public health problem, especially due to its association with cervical cancer and other clinical complications. Despite the existence of effective prevention methods, such as vaccination, screening, and health education, low population adherence, coupled with early onset of sexual activity and misinformation, contributes to its high prevalence. In this context, the primary care nurse plays a central role in implementing educational and preventive strategies, while expanding vaccination coverage and promoting clear information are essential measures to reduce infections and complications, reinforcing the need for public policies and intersectoral actions aimed at prevention and comprehensive care of the population.