Comparison of Cervical Cancer Screening Results Among Public and Private Services in Brazil.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo compare the frequency of Pap test results between women seen in private and public health services in a medium-sized city in Brazil.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis was an observational analytical study analyzing cervical cytological results over 16 years. Public data were collected from the Brazilian National Health System, and private refers to those collected at private clinics.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe overall frequency of unsatisfactory/rejected results was higher in public service examinations (odds ratio [OR] 0.05; confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.06). The same occurred for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) (OR 0.90; CI 0.85-0.95) and high-grade intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H) (OR 0.55; CI 0.47-0.64) categories. For low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, the frequency was higher among women from private services (OR 1.39; CI 1.24 - 1.55). Among women aged 25-64 years, the frequency of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was higher among women seen in the public service (OR 0.81; CI 0.66-0.99).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nBrazilian public services showed higher frequencies of unsatisfactory/rejected results and higher rates of ASC-US and ASC-H. Focusing on pre-analytical phases and establishing an internal quality control program can help improve these rates even though national protocols guide them.