Mammograms coverage, allocation and use of equipment in the Health Regions

ABSTRACT Mammography screening is the most important means to detect breast cancer. It is relevant to understand how this screening has been performed in Brazilian Health Regions, which are the fundamental spatial unity in the current health policy. The analysis of indicators related to the coverage of women from 40 to 69 years of age, number, distribution and degree of usage of mammography equipment show great problems in covering the targeted population, which cannot be explained only by the lack of equipment. The diversity of situations of the Health Regions and federal units is highlighted, showing better conditions in the Southeast and South and worse in the other regions.