Epidemiological Analysis of Morbidity and Mortality From Malignant Neoplasm of the Cervix in Brazil According to Color/Race (2016-2025)
Fernando Augusto Siuta dos Santos, Pedro Dytz Marin, Giulia Scain, Isabela Alicia Fink, Isadora Cristyne Parise, Julia Loureiro Chaves Cé, Stéphanie Klein Brum, Mariana Weremeier Weber, Martina de Sá, Rafaela Sumienski Girardi, Solana MeloPURPOSE
Cervical cancer remains a critical public health challenge in Brazil, representing a leading cause of cancer-related hospitalization and mortality among women. Although Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) provides universal, free access to screening and HPV vaccination, significant socioeconomic and racial barriers hinder equitable outcomes. This study aims to analyze the profile of hospitalizations and deaths from cervical cancer in Brazil between 2016 and 2025, identifying how self-reported race/color impacts disease prevalence and hospital mortality rates.
METHODS
A retrospective, quantitative epidemiological study was conducted using secondary data from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (DATASUS), a national database monitoring public healthcare admissions across all Brazilian states. The analysis included hospitalizations, deaths, and mortality rates, segmented by color/race categories (White, Black, Mixed-race/Pardo, Asian, and Indigenous) from 2016 to 2025.
RESULTS
A total of 248,267 hospitalizations were recorded. The highest prevalence occurred among Mixed-race (117,118 cases; 47.1%) and White women (91,012 cases; 36.6%). Total hospitalizations showed a rising trend, peaking at 30,684 in 2024. Hospital deaths totaled 26,883. Although Mixed-race women had the highest absolute death count (13,116), the mortality rate (deaths per hospitalization) revealed significant racial disparities: Indigenous women had the highest rate (13.80), followed by Asian (12.69) and Black women (12.34), while White women had the lowest rate (9.76). Notably, 21,399 hospitalizations and 2,552 deaths were recorded without race/color information, highlighting potential gaps in data notification and completeness.
CONCLUSION
Cervical cancer disproportionately impacts racial groups in Brazil, with Indigenous and Black women facing significantly higher mortality risks, likely due to barriers in early diagnosis and access to advanced care. These findings from a major Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) provide a critical framework for addressing racial inequities in cancer control worldwide. Therefore, prioritizing HPV vaccination and Pap smear screening for these highly vulnerable populations is essential to reduce global cancer disparities.