Prevalence of mammography and cytopathological exams before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Context Breast and cervical cancer are major public health issues, with high morbidity and mortality rates globally. In 2020, there were an estimated 2.3 million new breast cancer cases and 604,000 new cervical cancer cases worldwide. In Brazil, significant numbers of new cases were projected annually during the 2020–2022 period. Screening for these cancers through mammography and Cytopathologicals is recommended by the World Health Organization. Objective To describe the prevalence of self-reported mammography and cytopathological exams according to sociodemographic characteristics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Panel study with data from the Risk and Protection Factor Surveillance for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL), from 2012 to 2022. The outcomes were mammography in the last two years and cytopathological exams in the last three years. The proportions and 95% confidence intervals were described for the pre-pandemic period (2012–2020) and the pandemic period (2021–2022). Results The groups with the largest decreases in the prevalence of mammography were those aged 45–54 years, married, with 12 or more years of education, living in the South region, and Indigenous people. For the cytopathological exam, the groups with the largest declines were those aged 25–34 years, white skin, and residents of the South region. Conclusion There was a decrease in the prevalence of both exams, especially among educated women, white women, and those living in the South region.