EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH PROMOTION OF WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A MUNICIPALITY IN THE SOUTH OF MINAS GERAIS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Introduction: In Brazil, excluding non-melanoma skin tumors, breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent among women, being also a leading cause of death in this population. In order to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by BC, the Primary Health Care (PHC), which is the structuring axis of the Unified Health System, has as one of their main tools, the health promotion. This tool is defined as a process that allows people to gain greater control over their own health through the broad access to clear, consistent, and culturally appropriate information focusing on the case of BC, especially, on protective factors. Objective: Analyzing the occurrence of orientation about the womens health care by PHC to women with breast cancer. Methods: It is a quantitative observational study with a cross-sectional design performed with women and coordinates of Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the city of Alfenas, MG, in 2018. The population of women was constituted by those who treated BC in this city of 2011 until 2017. The selected coordinates were those with the highest number of women with BC ascribed in their areas. The “Questionário de Avaliação da Atenção às Mulheres Portadoras de Câncer de Mama” was applied to the women, and the “Questionário Sobre o Controle do Câncer de Mama” was applied to the coordinates of FHS. From both questionnaires were chosen those questions related to health promotion. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively and by Fisher’s Exact Test. Results: Half of the women attending the FHS reported that there are no actions that stimulate health promotion in relation to the BC. Regarding FHS, except for the orientation to identify alterations in the breast and axilla region, only half of them reported to perform some of the actions to control the development of the BC. In addition, it has been shown, in the view of the woman, that the FHS does not performed lectures and/or programs to encourage breast health care and that the Community Health Agent does not advise them on examinations aimed at women’s health. Conclusion: Health promotion in what concerns BC in selected FHS needs improvements in the effectiveness of its actions and their expansion.