Prevalence of hysterectomy and associated factors in Brazilian women aged 50 and older: findings from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSI-Brazil)

BackgroundHysterectomy is a gynaecological surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed as a treatment for both malignant and benign gynaecological diseases. A hysterectomy is also performed to minimise risks in women with problems related to the uterus. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of reported hysterectomy and associated risk factors in Brazilian women aged 50 and older.MethodsA cross-sectional study using data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSI-Brazil) was conducted. A total of 5,293 women aged 50 and over who participated in the ELSI-Brazil study in 2015 and 2016 were included. The prevalence rate of hysterectomy was estimated and the main reasons for performing the surgery were identified. The bivariate analyses utilised the chi-square test, while multivariate analyses employed Poisson regression with a robust estimator.ResultsThe reported prevalence of hysterectomy was 17.8%. The most prevalent reason for the surgery was the presence of uterine myoma. Significant and independent associations were observed in women aged 63 and older, married, having undergone preventive exams, hormonal treatment, had up to three deliveries and having a private health plan.ConclusionThe main objective of the study was achieved. The prevalence of hysterectomy in Brazilian women aged 50 and older was 17.8%. Significant associations were observed with participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics reinforcing the importance of considering the reproductive characteristics of women as indicators of health status.