Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of female mortality worldwide, but significant racial and socioeconomic disparities persist in disease outcomes. This review aimed to analyze racial and socioeconomic inequalities in mortality and survival from breast cancer, identifying the impact of social risk factors on access to diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Eighteen studies published between 2014 and 2024 were included, with 11 contributing to the meta-analysis. Random-effect models were used to assess correlations between socioeconomic status, race, and clinical outcomes, including heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. Results: The strongest associations were observed between income, race, and breast cancer survival, with survival significantly worse among Black women and low-income populations (p < 0.001). Income also showed a strong positive correlation with clinical outcomes. In contrast, the overall effect on mortality was not statistically significant (p = 0.290), likely due to high heterogeneity across studies (I² = 100%). These findings suggest that structural disparities in access to healthcare and early detection substantially affect survival rates. Conclusions: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer outcomes remain critical public health challenges. Targeted policies to expand early diagnosis and ensure equitable access to effective treatment are essential to reduce these disparities and improve survival in underserved populations.

Objective: To identify the difference in breast cancer mortality rates among young women according to countries’ economic classification. Methods: A systematic literature review included retrospective studies on breast cancer mortality rates in women aged 20 to 49 years. Databases used were PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Virtual Health Library, with articles selected in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The study selection and analysis were conducted by two pairs of researchers. Data from 54 countries were extracted, including 39 high-income, 12 upper-middle-income, and 3 lower-middle-income countries. A meta-analysis was performed with the quantitative data from two studies. Results: Six articles met the inclusion criteria. Four were analyzed descriptively due to data diversity, and two were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mortality rate for high-income countries was 10.2 per 100,000 women (95% CI: 9.8-10.6), while for upper-middle-income countries, it was 15.5 per 100,000 women (95% CI: 14.9-16.1). Lower-middle-income countries had a pooled mortality rate of 20.3 per 100,000 women (95% CI: 19.5-21.1). The decrease in mortality rates in high-income countries was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Mortality rates for breast cancer among young women have decreased significantly in high-income countries but have increased in lower-income countries. This disparity underscores the impact of insufficient investment in preventive measures, health promotion, early diagnosis, and treatment on young women’s mortality in lower-income countries.

Background: This study aimed to analyze maternal risk factors associated with negative outcomes of COVID-19 and association with socioeconomic indicators in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study, with data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (SIVEP-Flu) of pregnant women with COVID-19 and cases of hospitalization and death. For the analysis of risk factors and outcomes, the multiple logistic regression method was used. Results: Pregnant women who had some risk factor represented 47.04%. The chance of death was 2.48 times greater when there was a risk factor, 1.55 for ICU admission and 1.43 for use of ventilatory support. The percentage of cure was 79.64%, 15.46% without any negative outcome, 4.65% death and 0.26% death from other causes. Pregnant women who did not take the vaccine represented 30.08%, 16.74% took it and 53.18% were not specified. The variables HDI, illiteracy, per capita income and urbanization did not influence the cases of COVID-19. Conclusions: Factors such as age, obesity, asthma and pregnancy were responsible for the increase in hospitalizations, respiratory complications and death. Vaccination reduced the risk of negative outcomes by 50%. There were no correlations between socioeconomic indicators and the negative outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

Background: Breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally, with a particularly high incidence in low- and middle-income nations. In Brazil, disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment contribute to worse clinical outcomes, particularly in regions with a lower Human Development Index (HDI). This study evaluated the association between the delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation, and clinical outcomes of breast cancer across various Brazilian regions. Methods: This observational study utilized publicly available secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), collected between 2013 and 2023. Data included age group, treatment type (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), and delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation (≤30 days, 31–60 days, >60 days). Regional disparities were analyzed according to the HDI. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1, applying Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) and linear regression (R²) to assess associations between treatment delay and the number of cases or deaths. Results: Radiotherapy demonstrated the most significant negative correlation (r = −0.6624), and delays exceeding 60 days were consistently linked to poorer outcomes. In regions with lower Human Development Index (HDI), specifically the North and Northeast, longer treatment delays were observed, alongside a stronger correlation between delayed initiation of treatment and increased mortality. Conversely, shorter delays (30 days or less) demonstrated a weaker or absent correlation with improved outcomes. This suggests that other critical factors, such as the stage of cancer at diagnosis, the quality of care provided, and the consistency of treatment, are also significant determinants. Conclusions: Delays in treatment, particularly for radiotherapy and surgery, adversely affect breast cancer outcomes in Brazil. This impact is more pronounced in areas with lower Human Development Index (HDI), underscoring the critical need for targeted regional public policies. Such policies are essential to guarantee prompt diagnosis and treatment, thereby mitigating inequalities and enhancing survival rates.

Pacientes oncológicos possuem riscos mais elevados para o desenvolvimento da doença por COVID-19 em sua forma mais severa. Objetivo: analisar a mortalidade por câncer de mama associada a COVID-19 em mulheres brasileiras. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo. Os dados foram coletados no site do Open Data SUS, no período de janeiro a agosto de 2020. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva para análise dos dados. Resultados: o câncer de mama associado ao COVID-19 causou 69 óbitos nesse período, as idades que tiveram maior número de óbitos foram nos intervalos de idade 45-49 (14.5%), 60-64 (14.5%) e 65-69 anos (14.5%). Sobre a raça, (56,52%) eram brancos, seguida da cor parda (31,88%). Apenas (31,88%) apresentaram 8 anos ou mais de estudos e (49.27%) eram casadas. Em relação a causa básica da morte, o CID B34.2 (Infecção pelo Coronavírus de localização não especificada) se apresentou em maior número, com uma frequência de 52 (75.36%) e o CID C50.9 (Neoplasia maligna de mama, não especificada) teve uma frequência de 17 (24.64%). A cidade com maior número de óbitos por câncer de mama associada a COVID-19 no qual atingiu (20,29%) dos casos foi o Rio de Janeiro (RJ), seguida pela cidade de São Bernardo do Campo (SP) com (7.25%). Conclusão: O aumento da mortalidade por câncer de mama no período da pandemia do COVID-19 no Brasil pode estar atribuído à imunossupressão dessas mulheres e as medidas de enfrentamento ao COVID-19, no qual reduziu a procura por cuidados de saúde, acesso e disponibilidade de serviços de diagnóstico.

Objetivo: identificar na literatura científica os fatores que dificultam a implementação das boas práticas de atenção ao parto no Brasil, pela equipe de enfermagem. Método: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Efetuou-se a busca na literatura no mês de junho de 2020, nas bases de dados LILACS, SciELO e BDENF, de produções científicas publicadas entre 2010 e 2019. Resultados: selecionaram-se 15 estudos para compor a revisão integrativa, que possibilitaram identificar fatores que tem dificultado a implementação das boas práticas na atenção ao parto no Brasil, como estrutura inadequada dos serviços de saúde, superlotação, dimensionamento inadequado, descumprimento da lei do acompanhante e falta de protocolos institucionais, postura hegemônica e cultura médica intervencionista, conhecimento e sensibilização deficiente dos profissionais, e despreparo das parturientes para o processo de parto. Conclusão: É primordial que as boas práticas de atenção ao parto sejam implementadas, como também soluções efetivas dos fatores que dificultam a sua implementação.