Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
14/05/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Search was made with women in six Brazilian capitals.
Cancer of the cervix is the second most lethal women in Brazil.
A survey by IBOPE indicates that two-thirds of Brazilian women do not know that the human papillomavirus is related to cancer of the cervix. The data is worrisome because the prevention of the virus is the most effective way to prevent the disease - the second leading cancer that kills women in Brazil, behind only breast cancer.
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, which is passed in a single skin contact with skin, since the infected regions. Injury causes warts and genital warts and these often give rise to tumors. The type of cancer most commonly caused by it is that of the cervix, but it can also occur in the anus, penis, or throat.
"The research shows the need to continue passing the information to the population," he warned Garibalde Mortoza Junior, president of the Brazilian Association of Lower Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy, who conceived the work.
The query was made in six capital cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. "If the main capitals, misinformation hovering, imagine in smaller cities," said Mortoza.
Smaller towns and isolated locations are, in fact, the major concerns of physicians in relation to the fight against cervical cancer. In the North, Northeast and Midwest, this is the most common type of cancer among women, ahead of breast cancer.
HPV
The study asked women what are the best ways to prevent HPV. Among the respondents, 83% mentioned condoms as a way to avoid transmission.
The condom is rather recommended because it reduces the risk of transmission of most STDs. However, in the specific case of HPV, it is not 100% effective because the mere skin contact with skin may be sufficient for the virus to be passed.
Another very important method of preventing transmission is vaccination. Only 24% of respondents knew that HPV vaccine exists. The vaccine is expensive - is three doses, each of between £ 220 and £ 400 - and is not yet available in the public.
"The knowledge that I have is that it is a desire of the Ministry of Health," said Mortoza, who believes it to be available soon for some age groups.
Doctors recommend vaccination especially for girls between 12 and 14 years because efficacy is greater when the shots are given before the onset of sexual activity. "Not to say that after not to do," said the expert.
Pap
Besides preventing HPV transmission is also very important to do regular scans to identify lesions in the cervix before they become cancer. Early diagnosis increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
The test in question is the Pap smear, which should be done at least every three years. Survey data regarding this exam are also worrying: 18% of respondents never performed, and 13% made only once in life.
"Cancer of the cervix is one of the few that prevents you" recalled Mortoza, emphasizing the importance of preventive screenings.
For the specialist, Brazil has difficulties in this sector and the British health care system is an example to be followed. There, if a woman fails to make or pursue the examination is sought by health officials.
Here, he said, the process of displacement and marking schedules in public turns away some patients. Anyway, women also need to be aware of the risks and seek guidance, even if no symptoms.
"If the woman is not going to the gynecologist, no good," summed up the doctor.
Source: G1 - News
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.