Education in health for prevention of uterine cervical cancer in women in Santo Ângelo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 16; no. 9; pp. 3925 - 3932
• Main Authors: Casarin, Micheli Renata, Piccoli, Jaqueline da Costa Escobar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brazil; Cancer; Cervical cancer; Diseases; Education; Educators; Female; Health Education; Humans; Middle Aged; Mortality; Public health; Sex Education; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Women; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-81232011001000029

In Brazil, cervical uterine cancer is a major public health problem as it has high mortality rate indices among women of different ages. A cytopathological examination is recommended for preventing this type of cancer from the early stages of a woman's reproductive life. The scope of this study was both to give talks on sexual health education and establish the sexual health profile of women from St. Angelo/RS. The lectures included measures for prevention as well as identification of possible symptoms of the disease. The research into the sexual health profile of the participants was conducted by a structured questionnaire applied to 140 women aged between 15 and 60. It was found that even experiencing difficulties and apprehension, the majority of the women performed the preventive examination. The motivation for taking the exam is the appearance of symptoms and the habit of caring for their health. The participants mentioned the importance of health professionals and educators working together. The study sought to promote health and cancer prevention, seeking to avoid the disease and ensure better living conditions for women.