The efect of the COVID-19 pandemic on collection procedures for cytopathological exams in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to verify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the procedure for collecting cervical material for cytopathological examination. Methodology: this was a quantitative survey, in which information was obtained from the official website of the Ministry of Health, DATASUS, with a search on outpatient production in the Unified Health System, by place of care, with the survey of data referring to the approved quantity, per year of processing, according to Region/Unit of the Federation, of procedure 0201020033, collection of material from the cervix for cytopathological examination, group 02 (two), procedures with diagnostic purposes, analyzing the period between January from 2016 to December 2021. Results and Discussion: during the period studied, 51,472,809 procedures were performed to collect material from the cervix throughout the country. Being the Southeast region the one that most performed this procedure with 23,411,334 and the Midwest region with only 2,935,699, the one that least collected uterine material. The impact of the technical notes issued by INCA was then discussed, directing professionals to guide the population not to seek this type of procedure during the pandemic, how the resumption of post-pandemic material collections will take place. Conclusion: it was observed that there was a reduction in preventive procedures for the collection of uterine material, according to data collected throughout the national territory, due to the suspension of services, resulting in a large volume of tests not performed.