UTERINE CERVICAL CANCER: A STUDY COMPRISED OF WOMEN IN PRISON CÂNCER CÉRVICO UTERINO: ESTUDO COM MULHERES EM CÁRCERE CÁNCER DE CUELLO UTERINO: ESTUDIO CON MUJERES EN CÁRCEL

Objective: to study uterine cervical cancer among women in prison. Method: an exploratory-descriptive and quantitative study conducted at a women's penitentiary in Sao Luis, Maranhao. The sample was composed of 38 women. A questionnaire was applied and, subsequently, a Papanicolaus test was performed. The study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research by the University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhao (protocol 010.07). Results: the predominant age was between 26 and 30 years of age (47.4%); 23 (60.6%) had incomplete elementary education; and 24 (63.2%) had no income. Regarding smoking, 20(52.6%) women were smokers, 10 (50.0) for more than fifteen years. Regarding sexuality, 24 (63.2%) do not use condoms at all during sexual relations; the majority of their first sexual intercourses occurred between 13 and 16 years of age (68.4%); the Papanicolaus test has been previously performed by 30 (78.9%) and 08 (21.1%) never had one. The cytology showed that 97.4% of the tests were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, 2.6% were compatible with low-grade epithelial injury and 58% have compatibility with Gardnerella vaginallis. Conclusion: despite not showing a high prevalence of cancer precursor lesions, the women had risk factors for this type of cancer, demonstrating the importance of health strategies that target these factors. Descriptors: neoplasms; uterine cervical neoplasms; womens health; health vulnerability. RESUMO