COVID-19 pandemic and its reflection on breast cancer screening in Brazil

Authors

  • Uauira de Melo Medeiros Cunha Centro Universitário FMABC
  • Kerle Dayana Tavares de Lucena bUniversidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas.
  • Luiz Vinicius Alcantara Sousa cLaboratório de Epidemiologia e Análise de Dados – Centro Universitário FMABC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36311/jhgd.v34.15810

Keywords:

Breast neoplasms, Screening programs, Public Health Policies, Health Information Systems, Covid-19

Abstract

Introduction: breast cancer has been the leading cause of death among women in Brazil and worldwide. During the years of social isolation due to COVID-19, health services, including breast cancer screening, were suspended in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus, interfering with the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, effective means of reducing mortality.

Objective: to identify how the COVID-19 pandemic has interfered with the therapeutic itinerary for breast cancer in Brazilian regions.

Method: this is an observational, ecological study, carried out through secondary analysis of data available on the website of the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS).

Results: information was collected from all screening bilateral mammography exams in women aged 50 to 69 years, positive cases, and therapeutic modalities from 2018 to 2022. The data showed that the pandemic impacted Brazilian regions differently, requiring different strategies and investments to ensure access to health services and minimize the impacts of the pandemic.

Conclusion: although the survey did not show statistically significant results, the southeast region stood out in the registration of cases, but shows a drop-in case registered between 2021 and 2022. On the other hand, the northern region had the lowest number of cases in all years.

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Published

2024-07-31

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES