Cervical cancer in health professionals: preventive practice and of self-care

Resumo

Objective: to investigate the habit of self-care for the prevention of cervical cancer in health professionals. Methods: quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. It was used a questionnaire for data collection. Eighty professionals performed: 8 physicians, 16 nurses and 56 nursing technicians. This study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research of the State Department of Health of the Federal District (395/08). Results: the most professionals 49 (61.25%) did not practice physical activity, and although 57 (71,25%) reported to have healthy eating habits, only 23 (28,75%) carried approximately for 4 to 6 meals a day and 30 (37,5%) ate fruit and vegetables daily. Regarding to cyto-pathological abnormalities presented on preventive routine tests, 46 (57.5%) professionals reported inflammation episodes, 3 (3.75%) reported cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I), 2 (2.5%) CIN II and 1 (1.25%) CIN III. When they were asked about the promotion of self-care for the prevention of cervical cancer, 26 (32.5%) reported not being thorough about effective personal care. Conclusion: it was identified the important role of the motivation of health professionals to the preventive practice and self-care, by continued education or by workshops to raise awareness of the issue above, mainly if promoted by institution where they work. Descriptors: self care; neoplasms; uterine neoplasms; uterine cervical neoplasms; women's health.