Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives
Abstract Introduction Breast cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer in women in Brazil. Timely access to treatment is a priority for health policy in the country. However, indicators of the disease are not equally distributed between women. Poverty and low levels of schooling associate with...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-06-01
|
| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0989-z |
| _version_ | 1818041761626324992 |
|---|---|
| author | Ana Lúcia Lobo Vianna Cabral Luana Giatti Ángel Martínez-Hernáez Mariângela Leal Cherchiglia |
| author_facet | Ana Lúcia Lobo Vianna Cabral Luana Giatti Ángel Martínez-Hernáez Mariângela Leal Cherchiglia |
| author_sort | Ana Lúcia Lobo Vianna Cabral |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Breast cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer in women in Brazil. Timely access to treatment is a priority for health policy in the country. However, indicators of the disease are not equally distributed between women. Poverty and low levels of schooling associate with late diagnosis, worse prognosis and lower survival. Objective To investigate differences between women from different socio-demographic profiles in the breast cancer care trajectory in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Method This is a hermeneutic study through narrative analysis. The selection of the participants was based on data from hospital records of four public and private oncology services in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, according to the following variables: age, levels of schooling, and treatment cost source (Proxy of income): In-depth interviews were performed with 35 women characterized in three profiles: Profile 1 (n = 7), age range 51–69 years, schooling ≥15 years and private treatment cost; Profile 2 (n = 13), age range 35–58 years, schooling = 11 years and predominantly public treatment costing; Profile 3 (n = 15), age range 43–79 years, schooling ≤ 8 years and public treatment cost. Results The analysis of the narratives allowed the identification of three main themes (preventive care and first signs/symptoms; search for care and diagnosis of cancer; treatment and perceptions about care received) that highlighted differences between the trajectories, with prejudice to women with characteristics of greater vulnerability (Profile 3). Conclusion Although in Brazil the attention to women with breast cancer is guided by principles of equality and equity of care, it is necessary to develop mechanisms to prevent discriminatory practices and that guarantee equality of access to diagnosis and treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:35:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1933262d728a4bf8925a3240a0c6fa92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:35:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1933262d728a4bf8925a3240a0c6fa922022-12-22T01:55:59ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762019-06-0118111110.1186/s12939-019-0989-zInequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narrativesAna Lúcia Lobo Vianna Cabral0Luana Giatti1Ángel Martínez-Hernáez2Mariângela Leal Cherchiglia3Graduate Public Health Program, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical School. UFMGDepartament d’Antropologia, Filosofia e Treball Social. Medical Anthropology Research Center. Universitat Rovira I VirgiliDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical School. UFMGAbstract Introduction Breast cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer in women in Brazil. Timely access to treatment is a priority for health policy in the country. However, indicators of the disease are not equally distributed between women. Poverty and low levels of schooling associate with late diagnosis, worse prognosis and lower survival. Objective To investigate differences between women from different socio-demographic profiles in the breast cancer care trajectory in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Method This is a hermeneutic study through narrative analysis. The selection of the participants was based on data from hospital records of four public and private oncology services in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, according to the following variables: age, levels of schooling, and treatment cost source (Proxy of income): In-depth interviews were performed with 35 women characterized in three profiles: Profile 1 (n = 7), age range 51–69 years, schooling ≥15 years and private treatment cost; Profile 2 (n = 13), age range 35–58 years, schooling = 11 years and predominantly public treatment costing; Profile 3 (n = 15), age range 43–79 years, schooling ≤ 8 years and public treatment cost. Results The analysis of the narratives allowed the identification of three main themes (preventive care and first signs/symptoms; search for care and diagnosis of cancer; treatment and perceptions about care received) that highlighted differences between the trajectories, with prejudice to women with characteristics of greater vulnerability (Profile 3). Conclusion Although in Brazil the attention to women with breast cancer is guided by principles of equality and equity of care, it is necessary to develop mechanisms to prevent discriminatory practices and that guarantee equality of access to diagnosis and treatment.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0989-zBreast cancerQualitative studyCare trajectorySocial inequalities |
| spellingShingle | Ana Lúcia Lobo Vianna Cabral Luana Giatti Ángel Martínez-Hernáez Mariângela Leal Cherchiglia Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives International Journal for Equity in Health Breast cancer Qualitative study Care trajectory Social inequalities |
| title | Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives |
| title_full | Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives |
| title_fullStr | Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives |
| title_short | Inequality in breast cancer care in a Brazilian capital city: a comparative analysis of narratives |
| title_sort | inequality in breast cancer care in a brazilian capital city a comparative analysis of narratives |
| topic | Breast cancer Qualitative study Care trajectory Social inequalities |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-019-0989-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT analucialoboviannacabral inequalityinbreastcancercareinabraziliancapitalcityacomparativeanalysisofnarratives AT luanagiatti inequalityinbreastcancercareinabraziliancapitalcityacomparativeanalysisofnarratives AT angelmartinezhernaez inequalityinbreastcancercareinabraziliancapitalcityacomparativeanalysisofnarratives AT mariangelalealcherchiglia inequalityinbreastcancercareinabraziliancapitalcityacomparativeanalysisofnarratives |