PINK OCTOBER FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES – REBUILDING LIFE

Leonardo Bastos Lage, Ruffo Freitas-Júnior, Rosangela da Silveira Corrêa, Eliane Eugênia dos Santos, Nilson Clementino Ferreira, Nivaldo Carlos Silva

Institution: Municipal Bureau of Persons with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility – SMPED

“OBJECTIVE: To carry out a campaign focused exclusively on women with disabilities and caregivers, stimulating their role in raising awareness for early detection of breast cancer in a population that is still “”invisible”” to the health system regarding comprehensive care and accessibility.METHODOLOGY: Development and enforcement tool to assess the health data of women; data analysis and selection of people as per the Protocol for Breast Cancer Screening; research of Municipal Hospitals with available mammography and architectural accessibility; organization of infrastructure and schedule of the event; educational lectures to raise awareness of the target audience; the running of preventive examinations; medical appointments and delivery of test results with referrals for the immediate initiation of treatment – in accordance with the BI-RADS grades.RESULTS: Were examined 58 women – 43.10% with physical disabilities, 3.45% with multiple disabilities and 1.72% with intellectual disabilities. The caregivers represented 51.72% of the sample. Out of this total, 48.27% reported difficulty to be seen by the Basic Health Unit – the system “gateway.”” Only 17.24% underwent a medical consultation with a breast cancer specialist or gynecologist in one year or less. Out of the women examined, 13.80% never had a mammogram exam. One patient reported an altered result and began treatment at the renowned Reference Center for Women’s Health of São Paulo.CONCLUSION: We found three municipal hospitals with reasonable accommodation and architectural accessibility for the execution of mammograms. There is a lot to be done in terms of public policies regarding accessibility and effective social participation of this group that still depends on care activities to join health programs. We also need to address the misinformation and prejudice by the society because disability is an integral part of human diversity. Equally important is the improvement of health professionals to render qualified service for this demand as well as a deep social reflection to definitely put all people on equal footing.

KEYWORDS: People with Disabilities; Prevention of Breast Cancer; Accessibility.