[Cervical cancer mortality trends in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 1980-2005]

This study evaluated the cervical cancer mortality trend from 1980 to 2005 in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The demographic and mortality data available on the website of the Statistics Department of the Unified National Health System (DATASUS) were used to estimate the mortality rate for uterine cervical cancer and unspecified uterine cancer for the State during the period. Linear regression was performed, with mortality rate as the response variable and year of diagnosis as the explanatory variable. Mortality varied from 9.18/100,000 in 1980 to 5.70/100,000 in 2005. The log-linear model showed a 1.93% annual reduction in mortality due to cervical cancer for the State during the study period (p = 0.000), and this drop was observed mainly in cases classified as unspecified uterine cancer. The downward mortality trend observed for this disease suggests improved access to timely and adequate diagnosis and treatment in Minas Gerais in recent years, although coverage of screening is still unsatisfactory.