CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROFILE: A STUDY FOCUSED ON MUNICIPALITIES IN THE 10th HEALTH REGION OF PARANÁ

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem, although it is largely preventable through vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and periodic screening using cytopathological examination. This method is the main instrument adopted in Brazil for cervical cancer screening, as it allows for the early detection of pre-neoplastic lesions and, consequently, reduces mortality associated with the disease. The target population for the examination is women aged between 25 and 64 years, the age range in which there is a higher risk of developing precursor lesions. Outside this range, screening is not recommended due to the low incidence of significant changes and the high rate of spontaneous regression of lesions caused by HPV. This study aimed to analyze the profile of cervical cancer screening in the municipalities of the 10th Health Region of Paraná, between 2019 and 2024, verifying adherence to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and identifying inconsistencies in preventive actions.