[Previous history of Pap smears and cervical cancer: a case-control study in the Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil].

This hospital-based case-control study (2007-2010) aimed to estimate the association between previous Pap smear and cervical cancer diagnosis in the Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The sample consisted of 152 histologically confirmed cases and 169 controls from the same hospital as the cases. The analysis was conducted according to a model in three hierarchical levels considering sociodemographic characteristics (distal), sexual/reproductive and lifestyle factors (intermediate), and previous Pap smear (proximal). Odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. History of three or more Pap smears was associated with an 84% reduction in cervical cancer risk (OR = 0.16; 95%CI: 0.074; 0.384) after adjusting for selected variables. The results highlight the importance of preventive gynecological examination for reducing the risk of cervical cancer and emphasize the need to increase adherence to the guidelines of the Brazilian program, besides identifying and scheduling women that have proven reluctant to submit to cervical cancer screening.