Vaginal smears Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):238-245
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500006
PURPOSE: to compare the coverage of conventional Papanicolaou cytology in women aged 15 to 59 years between two home surveys, related to some personal attributes and to the tendency to die from cervical cancer. METHODS: we analyzed data collected in two home surveys, with complex sampling, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, over the years from 1987 to 2001 and 2002. The self-reported answers of 968 women in the first inquiry and of 1,125 women in the second inquiry were compared regarding the reply to the question about the execution of the Papanicolaou test "sometimes in a lifetime" in relation to age distribution, black skin, marital status, years of education and tendency to die because cervical cancer during the period from 1980 to 2007. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the sample regarding each item, with the level of significance set at p value >5%. RESULTS: from the first to the second inquiry there was a 24% increase in the execution of conventional Papanicolaou cytology (from 68.8% to 85%). The greatest variations in the increased coverage related to the personal attributes of the women were detected in black skin color, among single women and among women of lower schooling. Regarding the tendency to mortality rates due to cervical cancer, no clear ascending or declining tendency was observed along the 28 years studied (1980 to 2007). CONCLUSION: there was an increase in access to the cytological Papanicolaou test among the most vulnerable women. Since 2001 and 2002, the 85% coverage already reached WHO recommendation, although without a clear trend of decline in mortality due to cervical cancer in the following years, indicating that screening is only part of an effective and organized program for the control of cervical cancer, whose model must guarantee full women's health care.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):238-245
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500006
PURPOSE: to compare the coverage of conventional Papanicolaou cytology in women aged 15 to 59 years between two home surveys, related to some personal attributes and to the tendency to die from cervical cancer. METHODS: we analyzed data collected in two home surveys, with complex sampling, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, over the years from 1987 to 2001 and 2002. The self-reported answers of 968 women in the first inquiry and of 1,125 women in the second inquiry were compared regarding the reply to the question about the execution of the Papanicolaou test "sometimes in a lifetime" in relation to age distribution, black skin, marital status, years of education and tendency to die because cervical cancer during the period from 1980 to 2007. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the sample regarding each item, with the level of significance set at p value >5%. RESULTS: from the first to the second inquiry there was a 24% increase in the execution of conventional Papanicolaou cytology (from 68.8% to 85%). The greatest variations in the increased coverage related to the personal attributes of the women were detected in black skin color, among single women and among women of lower schooling. Regarding the tendency to mortality rates due to cervical cancer, no clear ascending or declining tendency was observed along the 28 years studied (1980 to 2007). CONCLUSION: there was an increase in access to the cytological Papanicolaou test among the most vulnerable women. Since 2001 and 2002, the 85% coverage already reached WHO recommendation, although without a clear trend of decline in mortality due to cervical cancer in the following years, indicating that screening is only part of an effective and organized program for the control of cervical cancer, whose model must guarantee full women's health care.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):144-149
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300008
PURPOSE: to identify the nomenclature for reporting cervical cytological diagnoses used by laboratories which render services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and which participate in External Quality Monitoring (MEQ). To evaluate the information acquired from gynecologists of the SUS regarding the various diagnostic classifications that they receive in the cervical cytology diagnostic reports. METHODS: we evaluated 94 cytology reports issued by laboratories which participate in the MEQ in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and 126 questionnaires applied to gynecologists who work for the SUS. RESULTS: out of the 94 laboratories, 81 (86.2%) use one diagnostic classification: 79 (97.6%) use the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cytological Reports (NBLC), 1 (1.2%) uses the Papanicolaou classification and 1 (1.2%) uses the Richart diagnostic classification. Of the 13 (13.8%) laboratories that use more than one classification, 5 use 2 types and 8 use 3 to 4 types, with 9 including the Papanicolau diagnostic classification. The study showed that 52 (55.3%) laboratories presented more than one descriptive diagnosis in the same report. Out of the 126 gynecologists who filled out a questionnaire evaluating the cytopathology reports, 78 (61.9 %) stated that they received laboratory reports with only one diagnostic classification, 48 (38.1%) received reports with more than one classification and 2 received reports with all 4 classifications. Among the 93 (73.8%) gynecologists who prefer only one classification, 56 (60.2%) claimed that the NBLC contributes to clinical practice, 13 (14.0%) opted for the Richart classification, 8 (8.6%) for the Reagan classification and 16 (17.2%) for the Papanicolaou classification. Out of 33 (26.2%) gynecologists who prefer more than one classification, 5 opted for the 4 classifications. CONCLUSIONS: these data suggest that there is still resistance on the part of pathologists about using the official nomenclature in cytology reports for SUS. There is discrepancy between the information that gynecologists would like to see in the reports and the information provided by the pathologists. Greater efforts should be made to stimulate the use of the official nomenclature.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):144-149
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300008
PURPOSE: to identify the nomenclature for reporting cervical cytological diagnoses used by laboratories which render services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and which participate in External Quality Monitoring (MEQ). To evaluate the information acquired from gynecologists of the SUS regarding the various diagnostic classifications that they receive in the cervical cytology diagnostic reports. METHODS: we evaluated 94 cytology reports issued by laboratories which participate in the MEQ in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and 126 questionnaires applied to gynecologists who work for the SUS. RESULTS: out of the 94 laboratories, 81 (86.2%) use one diagnostic classification: 79 (97.6%) use the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cytological Reports (NBLC), 1 (1.2%) uses the Papanicolaou classification and 1 (1.2%) uses the Richart diagnostic classification. Of the 13 (13.8%) laboratories that use more than one classification, 5 use 2 types and 8 use 3 to 4 types, with 9 including the Papanicolau diagnostic classification. The study showed that 52 (55.3%) laboratories presented more than one descriptive diagnosis in the same report. Out of the 126 gynecologists who filled out a questionnaire evaluating the cytopathology reports, 78 (61.9 %) stated that they received laboratory reports with only one diagnostic classification, 48 (38.1%) received reports with more than one classification and 2 received reports with all 4 classifications. Among the 93 (73.8%) gynecologists who prefer only one classification, 56 (60.2%) claimed that the NBLC contributes to clinical practice, 13 (14.0%) opted for the Richart classification, 8 (8.6%) for the Reagan classification and 16 (17.2%) for the Papanicolaou classification. Out of 33 (26.2%) gynecologists who prefer more than one classification, 5 opted for the 4 classifications. CONCLUSIONS: these data suggest that there is still resistance on the part of pathologists about using the official nomenclature in cytology reports for SUS. There is discrepancy between the information that gynecologists would like to see in the reports and the information provided by the pathologists. Greater efforts should be made to stimulate the use of the official nomenclature.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(10):476-485
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010001000002
PURPOSE: to analyze the characteristics of viral infection and the risk factors for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical carcinoma in women with cervical HPV infection. METHODS: a case-control study was conducted on women with cervical HPV at a Gynecology reference service enrolled at the Public Health System, located in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. The groups of cases (72 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer) and controls (176 women with normal Pap smear or benign alterations) were investigated for six viral genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6, 11) in ecto- and endocervical material using MY09/MY11 primers. The independent variables were ranked in three levels of determination: distal (sociodemographic), intermediate (behavioral) and proximal (previous Pap smear). The homogeneity of proportions was tested (χ2), unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were obtained and hierarchical logistic regression was applied to the final model, with adjustment of the effect of each variable to the outcome based on the variables in the same and previous levels of causality. RESULTS: the viral genotype of cervical infection was identified in 76.6% of the 248 women participating in the study. High-risk HPV genotypes (83.4% of cases and 67.1% of controls) were predominant, especially HPV 16 and 31. The distal risk factors identified were: living in a rural area (OR=2.71, 95%CI: 1.18-6.23), less than three years of study (OR=3.97, 95%CI: 2.09-7.54) and family income below two minimum wages (OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.04-10.51); intermediate: four or more pregnancies (OR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.06-3.76); and proximal: absence of a previous Pap smear (OR=9.74, 95%CI: 2.48-38.28). CONCLUSIONS: genotypes 16 and 31 of cervical HPV infection are predominant among women assisted by the Public Health System in Northeastern Brazil. Socioeconomic and reproductive factors, as well as the absence of cytological screening, represent risk factors for the progression of infection to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(10):476-485
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010001000002
PURPOSE: to analyze the characteristics of viral infection and the risk factors for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical carcinoma in women with cervical HPV infection. METHODS: a case-control study was conducted on women with cervical HPV at a Gynecology reference service enrolled at the Public Health System, located in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. The groups of cases (72 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer) and controls (176 women with normal Pap smear or benign alterations) were investigated for six viral genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 6, 11) in ecto- and endocervical material using MY09/MY11 primers. The independent variables were ranked in three levels of determination: distal (sociodemographic), intermediate (behavioral) and proximal (previous Pap smear). The homogeneity of proportions was tested (χ2), unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) were obtained and hierarchical logistic regression was applied to the final model, with adjustment of the effect of each variable to the outcome based on the variables in the same and previous levels of causality. RESULTS: the viral genotype of cervical infection was identified in 76.6% of the 248 women participating in the study. High-risk HPV genotypes (83.4% of cases and 67.1% of controls) were predominant, especially HPV 16 and 31. The distal risk factors identified were: living in a rural area (OR=2.71, 95%CI: 1.18-6.23), less than three years of study (OR=3.97, 95%CI: 2.09-7.54) and family income below two minimum wages (OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.04-10.51); intermediate: four or more pregnancies (OR=2.00, 95%CI: 1.06-3.76); and proximal: absence of a previous Pap smear (OR=9.74, 95%CI: 2.48-38.28). CONCLUSIONS: genotypes 16 and 31 of cervical HPV infection are predominant among women assisted by the Public Health System in Northeastern Brazil. Socioeconomic and reproductive factors, as well as the absence of cytological screening, represent risk factors for the progression of infection to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):368-373
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the agreement between conventional cytology using the Papanicolaou test, repeated at the time of colposcopy, with colposcopic and histopathological findings. METHODS: the study was carried out at the central public health laboratory of the state of Pernambuco between January and July, 2008, involving 397 women referred for colposcopic evaluation following an abnormal cervical smear test. Cytology was repeated at the time of colposcopy using conventional method, with particular attention being paid to the presence of abnormal colposcopic findings. The nomenclature used for cytology was the 2001 Bethesda system terminology, while that used for histology was the World Health Organization 1994 classification. Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy was compared with colposcopy and with histopathology obtained by colposcopy-directed biopsy. The Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the agreement between methods, as well as the χ2 test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: poor agreement was found between cytology performed at the time of colposcopy and colposcopic findings (K=0.33; 95%CI=0.21-0.45) and between colposcopy and histopathology (K=0.35; 95%CI=0.39-0.51). Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy compared with histopathology revealed a Kappa of 0.41 (95%CI=0.29-0.530), which was considered to reflect moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: agreement was better between cytology and histopathology than between colposcopy and cytology or between colposcopy and histopathology.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):368-373
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the agreement between conventional cytology using the Papanicolaou test, repeated at the time of colposcopy, with colposcopic and histopathological findings. METHODS: the study was carried out at the central public health laboratory of the state of Pernambuco between January and July, 2008, involving 397 women referred for colposcopic evaluation following an abnormal cervical smear test. Cytology was repeated at the time of colposcopy using conventional method, with particular attention being paid to the presence of abnormal colposcopic findings. The nomenclature used for cytology was the 2001 Bethesda system terminology, while that used for histology was the World Health Organization 1994 classification. Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy was compared with colposcopy and with histopathology obtained by colposcopy-directed biopsy. The Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the agreement between methods, as well as the χ2 test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: poor agreement was found between cytology performed at the time of colposcopy and colposcopic findings (K=0.33; 95%CI=0.21-0.45) and between colposcopy and histopathology (K=0.35; 95%CI=0.39-0.51). Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy compared with histopathology revealed a Kappa of 0.41 (95%CI=0.29-0.530), which was considered to reflect moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: agreement was better between cytology and histopathology than between colposcopy and cytology or between colposcopy and histopathology.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(11):580-587
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001100006
PURPOSE: to investigate women’s age at their first sexual intercourse and its correlation with their present age, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cytological abnormalities at Pap smear. METHODS: women from the general population were invited to be screened for cervical cancer and pre-malignant lesions. After answering a behavior questionnaire, they were submitted to screening with cervical cytology and high-risk HPV testing with Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2). This report is part of the Latin American Screening (LAMS) study, that comprises centers from Brazil and Argentina, and the data presented herein refer to the Brazilian women evaluated at the cities of Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Campinas. RESULTS: from 8,649 women that answered the questionnaire, 8,641 reported previous sexual activity and were included in this analysis. The mean age at the interview was 38.1±11.0 years and the mean age at the first sexual intercourse was 18.5±4.0 years. The age at the first sexual intercourse increased along with the age at the interview, i.e., younger women reported they had begun their sexual life earlier than older women (p<0.001). From the total of women who had already begun having sexual intercourse, 3,643 patients were tested for high-risk HPV infection and 17.3% of them had positive results. In all the centers, it became clear that the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages below the mean age of all the population interviewed presented higher rates of HPV infection (20.2%) than the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages above the mean (12.5%) - Odds Ratio (OR) 1.8 (IC95% 1.5-2.2;p<0,001). According to the cytology, the women with first sexual intercourse at ages under the mean, presented higher percentage of abnormal cytology > or = ASC-US (6.7%) than the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages above the mean (4.3%) - OR 1.6 (IC95% 1.3-2.;p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the high-risk HPV infection and cytological abnormalities identified during the asymptomatic population screening were significantly associated to the women’s age at the first sexual intercourse. Additionally, we have also identified that the women’s age at the first sexual intercourse has decreased during the last decades, suggesting an important contribution to the increase of HPV infection and the subsequent cervical lesions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(11):580-587
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001100006
PURPOSE: to investigate women’s age at their first sexual intercourse and its correlation with their present age, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cytological abnormalities at Pap smear. METHODS: women from the general population were invited to be screened for cervical cancer and pre-malignant lesions. After answering a behavior questionnaire, they were submitted to screening with cervical cytology and high-risk HPV testing with Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2). This report is part of the Latin American Screening (LAMS) study, that comprises centers from Brazil and Argentina, and the data presented herein refer to the Brazilian women evaluated at the cities of Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Campinas. RESULTS: from 8,649 women that answered the questionnaire, 8,641 reported previous sexual activity and were included in this analysis. The mean age at the interview was 38.1±11.0 years and the mean age at the first sexual intercourse was 18.5±4.0 years. The age at the first sexual intercourse increased along with the age at the interview, i.e., younger women reported they had begun their sexual life earlier than older women (p<0.001). From the total of women who had already begun having sexual intercourse, 3,643 patients were tested for high-risk HPV infection and 17.3% of them had positive results. In all the centers, it became clear that the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages below the mean age of all the population interviewed presented higher rates of HPV infection (20.2%) than the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages above the mean (12.5%) - Odds Ratio (OR) 1.8 (IC95% 1.5-2.2;p<0,001). According to the cytology, the women with first sexual intercourse at ages under the mean, presented higher percentage of abnormal cytology > or = ASC-US (6.7%) than the women with the first sexual intercourse at ages above the mean (4.3%) - OR 1.6 (IC95% 1.3-2.;p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the high-risk HPV infection and cytological abnormalities identified during the asymptomatic population screening were significantly associated to the women’s age at the first sexual intercourse. Additionally, we have also identified that the women’s age at the first sexual intercourse has decreased during the last decades, suggesting an important contribution to the increase of HPV infection and the subsequent cervical lesions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(1):24-31
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000100005
PURPOSE: to verify the coverage and factors associated with Papanicolaou (Pap) testing in Londrina (PR), Brazil. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study, carried out in 2004, in microareas of five Basic Health Units (BHU) of Londrina. One or two microareas from each BHU were selected and a list of all women aged 20-59 years resident in these places, was made through search in the Basic Attention Information System, the women being then visited and interviewed. Those with a Pap test in the last three years were considered as having an updated examination, and the remaining as delayed. The association of some factors with the examination situation was investigated. Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info 6.04d. RESULTS: Pap smear coverage among the 513 participants of the study was 80.7%, ranging from 71.5% to 88.4%. Delay in taking the test was higher (p<0.05) among women who worked only at home (22.4% as compared with 14.3% among those who worked outside), and among those who belonged to D/E social classes (24.9%) as compared to C (17.5%) and A/B (8.3%) classes. The proportion who ignored the next test date was higher (p<0.01) among those who had the last Papanicolaou testing at a BHU (14.7%), as compared to those who had been attended privately or by a health insurance company (5.8%). CONCLUSION: the coverage of Pap smear in the studied areas can be considered satisfactory, although there is a need of improving compliance with Pap test, mainly among women who are the poorest and who work only at home.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(1):24-31
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000100005
PURPOSE: to verify the coverage and factors associated with Papanicolaou (Pap) testing in Londrina (PR), Brazil. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study, carried out in 2004, in microareas of five Basic Health Units (BHU) of Londrina. One or two microareas from each BHU were selected and a list of all women aged 20-59 years resident in these places, was made through search in the Basic Attention Information System, the women being then visited and interviewed. Those with a Pap test in the last three years were considered as having an updated examination, and the remaining as delayed. The association of some factors with the examination situation was investigated. Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info 6.04d. RESULTS: Pap smear coverage among the 513 participants of the study was 80.7%, ranging from 71.5% to 88.4%. Delay in taking the test was higher (p<0.05) among women who worked only at home (22.4% as compared with 14.3% among those who worked outside), and among those who belonged to D/E social classes (24.9%) as compared to C (17.5%) and A/B (8.3%) classes. The proportion who ignored the next test date was higher (p<0.01) among those who had the last Papanicolaou testing at a BHU (14.7%), as compared to those who had been attended privately or by a health insurance company (5.8%). CONCLUSION: the coverage of Pap smear in the studied areas can be considered satisfactory, although there is a need of improving compliance with Pap test, mainly among women who are the poorest and who work only at home.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(8):485-492
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000800009
PURPOSE: to present an overview of the coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil, emphasizing the determinant factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. METHODS: the literature was reviewed using the LILACS (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences of the Health), MEDLINE - 1966 to 2004 (International Literature in Sciences of the Health), PAHO (Collection of the Library of the Pan-American Organization of Health), and WHOLIS (System of Information of the Library of OMS) databases. The review was enlarged through the search of bibliographical references of relevant studies, request for published and unpublished studies by specialists, and other sources. Articles that fulfilled the following criteria were selected: to be a cross-sectional study, carried out in Brazil, including information about periodicity of the Pap test (some time in life or in the last three years) and/or containing information about factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. Duplicates and articles without summary were excluded. A total of 13 articles fulfilling these criteria were selected. RESULTS: there are few studies on the coverage of Pap smear in Brazil. Most of them are concentrated in the big cities of the South and Southeast regions of the country. Besides the shortage, little methodological standardization exists in relation to the sampling and profile of the investigated women, which turns difficult the comparison among them. These methodological differences must have contributed to the great variability found in the coverage. However, in spite of all of the problems, a trend of time series increase is observed in the percentage of women who had at least one Pap smear in life. The two studies accomplished in the eighties showed coverage of 55.0 and 68.9% some time in life, while a household survey carried out in 2002 and 2003 presented values that varied from 73.4 to 92.9%; however, two studies of national inclusion presented estimates below 70.0% in the last three years. On the other hand, some variables were associated with the women's failure to submit to the Pap smear: low socioeconomic level, low education, low family income, and to belong to the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: the data here presented point to regional inequalities in the coverage of the Pap smear in the Brazilian female population and to the need of intervention targeted to those factors associated with women's failure to submit to the Pap smear.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(8):485-492
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000800009
PURPOSE: to present an overview of the coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil, emphasizing the determinant factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. METHODS: the literature was reviewed using the LILACS (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences of the Health), MEDLINE - 1966 to 2004 (International Literature in Sciences of the Health), PAHO (Collection of the Library of the Pan-American Organization of Health), and WHOLIS (System of Information of the Library of OMS) databases. The review was enlarged through the search of bibliographical references of relevant studies, request for published and unpublished studies by specialists, and other sources. Articles that fulfilled the following criteria were selected: to be a cross-sectional study, carried out in Brazil, including information about periodicity of the Pap test (some time in life or in the last three years) and/or containing information about factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. Duplicates and articles without summary were excluded. A total of 13 articles fulfilling these criteria were selected. RESULTS: there are few studies on the coverage of Pap smear in Brazil. Most of them are concentrated in the big cities of the South and Southeast regions of the country. Besides the shortage, little methodological standardization exists in relation to the sampling and profile of the investigated women, which turns difficult the comparison among them. These methodological differences must have contributed to the great variability found in the coverage. However, in spite of all of the problems, a trend of time series increase is observed in the percentage of women who had at least one Pap smear in life. The two studies accomplished in the eighties showed coverage of 55.0 and 68.9% some time in life, while a household survey carried out in 2002 and 2003 presented values that varied from 73.4 to 92.9%; however, two studies of national inclusion presented estimates below 70.0% in the last three years. On the other hand, some variables were associated with the women's failure to submit to the Pap smear: low socioeconomic level, low education, low family income, and to belong to the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: the data here presented point to regional inequalities in the coverage of the Pap smear in the Brazilian female population and to the need of intervention targeted to those factors associated with women's failure to submit to the Pap smear.
