Breast cancer screening in Brazil: an assessment of supply and use of Brazilian National Health System health care network for the period 2010-2012

Abstract

To assess the supply and use of procedures for early detection, diagnosis and surgeries of breast cancer in the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). Methods: descriptive study using data from SUS Ambulatory Care and Hospital Information Systems, and from the National Register of Health Care Facilities; the indicators of supply and use of these services in Brazil and its macroregions for 2010-2012 were calculated. Results: the ratio mammography equipment and female population/100 thousand remained stable (1.5), ranging from 1.0 in the North region to 2.0 in the South; the ratio mammograms and female population/100 thousand increased in all macroregions; there was a low proportion of diagnostic procedures when compared to the estimates (biopsy, 11.5%; core biopsy, 16.6% in women aged 50-69 years); the installed capacity decreased, however the production increased, and the supply (3,995,627) was below the necessary to cover 70% (7,785,415). Conclusion: there are inequalities in supply and use of the procedures in the Brazilian regions, and the access to diagnosis is worrisome.