Impacto da atuação do enfermeiro no manejo do Papilomavírus Humano na atenção básica à saúde

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the major public health concerns worldwide and is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer. Within Primary Health Care (PHC), nurses play a central role in prevention, screening, and comprehensive care, especially in the context of the Family Health Strategy (FHS). This study aimed to analyze the impact of nurses' performance in the management of HPV in primary care in the city of Picos, Piauí, Brazil. This is a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study carried out with 17 FHS nurses, using a structured questionnaire as the data collection instrument. Results showed that although all professionals reported engaging in primary and secondary prevention actions—such as health education, condom promotion, and Pap smear collection—only 47.1% reported achieving the recommended screening coverage, and 83% did not reach the vaccination target. Major challenges included the spread of misinformation, low population adherence, lack of resources, and work overload. A lack of specific training was also observed, as only 29.4% had education related to HPV management. Despite the strategic role of nurses, the effectiveness of their actions is limited by structural, organizational, and educational barriers. Therefore, investment in continuing education, strengthening of care networks, and implementation of communication strategies to combat misinformation are essential to improve cervical cancer prevention in PHC.