Pink October in the North Planalto of Catarinense: a call to action to improve awareness and prevention

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to report the perception of the level of knowledge of the communities in the northern plateau of Santa Catarina about the awareness campaign "Pink October" and the relevance of preventive exams for breast and cervical cancer. To achieve this purpose, we employed the method of conducting detailed interviews with nurses and patients of primary health care units in the region, checking for adherence to campaigns. From this context, we develop personalized strategies aligned with specific needs, implementing lectures and the distribution of folders; both as measures to encourage the active participation of the community. The experiences showed that after the orientations, it was possible to identify significant uncertainties of the female public related to breast and cervical cancer. During the activities, technical guidance was provided to several women, clarifying doubts, and transmitting essential information about prevention and early diagnosis. The conclusion we reached is that there is a knowledge deficit among women, indicating the urgency of greater access to reliable information on women's health. For us academics, this experience proved to be of immense contribution, enabling a more effective approach to the community through informal dialogues, overcoming the traditional barriers of the university and clinical environment.

Keywords: awareness; breast cancer; pink October.