70% of favela residents report difficulty detecting cancer

The biggest difficulties for residents of favelas across the country in accessing cancer diagnosis and treatment are the delay in scheduling exams (82%) and access to health institutions (69%). The information is part of the Oncoguia survey

“Perceptions and priorities of cancer in Brazilian favelas”

carried out by DataFavela and Instituto Locomotiva.

The survey was released this Tuesday (09), in Brasília. The survey heard 2,963 people, mostly black, classes D and E, from all regions of the country, between January 18th and February 1st of this year. The majority of the public heard depends exclusively on the SUS (82%).

Among the interviewees, 70% said that they try to take care of their health, but report that there is never a doctor at the health center and the exams take too long. The survey revealed, for example, that 45% of favela residents have difficulty getting to the Basic Health Unit (UBS), taking, on average, one hour on that journey.

In another stretch, 41% of respondents responded that they do not usually take tests or only do them when they are sick. This rate drops to 34% among people aged 46 or over.

In the assessment of the founder of Data Favela, Renato Meirelles the study shows the consequences of abandonment by the State in these communities.

“The favela is not a niche. If it were a state, it would be the third largest in Brazil. There are more than 13,500 Brazilian favelas, with almost 18 million inhabitants. “he pointed out. “The favela concentrates income inequality because the informal market dominates the favela, because many people do not hire favela residents simply because they live in a favela”.

In communities, 11% of residents cannot say whether cancer is contagious and 19% think cancer is “divine punishment”. Another 31% believe that black people do not get skin cancer.

In all, the survey showed that 63% of ears have a negative association with cancer. On the other hand, 22% make optimistic associations. “The first word that comes to mind when they hear the word cancer is: death, followed by negative feelings and suffering, pain and sadness”indicates the survey.

Seven out of 10 favela residents think they have less access to information on prevention and early diagnosis of the disease. For 68% of respondents, prevention is important, but they do not have access to adequate health facilities.

The main obstacle to early diagnosis is the difficulty in scheduling exams in the public network (40%), another 25% indicated misinformation as the biggest problem.

Favela gives votes, millions of votes. Hence why many strive to keep these gigantic electoral corrals intact. #datafavela pic.twitter.com/0Wdr9TMTYz

— Claudio Dantas (@claudioedantas) March 18, 2023