Percepção de usuárias da estratégia saúde da família quanto a realização do colpocitológico em tempos de pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

In Brazil, cervical cancer is the third incident among women. For the year 2022, 16,710 new cases were estimated, which represents a considered risk of 15.38 cases for every 100 thousand women. It is essential to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected women's health care in terms of adherence to Pap smear tests, for the readaptation and reorganization of the workforce and care units. Thus, this study aimed to understand the perception of users registered in the Family Health Strategy of Montes Claros – MG, regarding the performance of the Pap smear test in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a qualitative and descriptive study. The research was carried out in UBS/ESF from April to September 2023. 174 ESF were identified, the lottery method was used for selection, and in the first draw, 15 ESF were drawn that met the inclusion criteria, in the final draw of these 15, three were drawn. The users were identified following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, this data was collected by consulting the family registration forms (File A). 25 users aged 25 to 64 participated in this study. The interviews lasted an average of 25 minutes and were recorded after consent and signing of the informed consent form. The interviews were guided by the following question “What is the users' perception of adherence to Cervical Cancer Prevention during the pandemic period?”, the end of data collection was based on the saturation criterion. Each participant was assigned a number after the letter P, according to the order in which they were performed to maintain anonymity. Atlas TI software was used to analyze the data. Scientific version 24. Bardin's content analysis was used for the methodological framework. In the case of research carried out with human beings, this research project is in line with resolution 466/12 of the National Health Council, being approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the State University of Montes Claros – MG (UNIMONTES) number number opinion: 5,904,251/2023. After analyzing the participants' statements, it was assessed that even during the pandemic period there was adherence to cytopathological tests, and of the 25 women interviewed, 19 underwent it and 06 did not adhere to it, and that the main difficulties cited by them were: pain during exam, fear of leaving home during the pandemic, embarrassment and shame of taking the exam with a male professional. Therefore, after analyzing the interviews carried out, it was possible to understand the users' perception of the cytopathological examination, it was found that with the pandemic there was adherence to carrying out cytopathological examinations, and even with factors that hinder access to the health service highlighted, many sought the health service to carry out the examination, but they do not understand what the pathology is. The emphasis on health promotion becomes extremely important, as there is a deficit in women's information about cervical cancer.