CERVICAL CANCER MORTALITY IN WOMEN OF FERTILE AGE IN THE STATE OF SERGIPE: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Cervical cancer constitutes a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), the incidence per 100,000 women is 23.97 cases in the North region, 20.72 in the Center-West, 19.49 in the Northeast, 11.30 in the Southeast, and 15.17 in the South. Within this context of elevated national incidence of cervical cancer, especially in the Northeast region, this study holds significant relevance for public health as well as social importance, as it seeks to analyze cervical cancer (CC) mortality rates in the state of Sergipe in comparison with national data. The objective of this study is to examine the mortality profile of CC in the state of Sergipe. This is a retrospective, epidemiological, ecological, and quantitative study, employing a cross-sectional descriptive approach based on documentary analysis, using secondary data obtained from the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System (SIH/DATASUS). The findings demonstrate that the mortality rate from cervical cancer among women of reproductive age in Sergipe showed a moderate increase between 2018 and 2019, and subsequently stabilized between 2019 and 2023. In light of these results, the implementation and strengthening of public policies aimed at health education, particularly regarding the importance of the Pap smear test, are of critical importance. Furthermore, proactive outreach to women to ensure cytopathological screening for CC is essential in order to mitigate this adverse scenario, which continues to affect not only the state of Sergipe but also the Northeast region as a whole, given that it ranks as the second highest in mortality from neoplasms among women in the country.