Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre la detección de cáncer de cuello uterino en estudiantes de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca, sede Azogues en el periodo marzo 2025-agosto 2025

Abstract

Background: Although preventable, cervical cancer remains a cause of mortality in Ecuador. Identifying gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among students can help strengthen reproductive health education. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among female students at the Catholic University of Cuenca, Campus Azogues, during March to August 2025. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Catholic University of Cuenca, Campus Azogues, from March to August 2025, with institutional approval. Participants were adult students enrolled in the Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Law, and Criminology programs. Students with cervical cancer, a history of hysterectomy, pregnancy, or those who did not provide informed consent were excluded. Stratified sampling was used to ensure representativeness. Results: The study included 357 students, primarily aged 18–20, from urban areas, and unmarried, with a predominance of medical students. A total of 64.4% had low levels of knowledge, 59.7% had moderate attitudes, and 82.1% engaged in inadequate preventive practices. Preventive behaviors were significantly associated with race (knowledge: χ²=38.770, p<0.001; attitude: χ²=25.486, p=0.001; practices: χ²=12.194, p=0.016) and marital status (practices: χ²=13.245, p=0.010). Conclusions: Students demonstrated basic knowledge about cervical cancer but were unaware of the frequency of (HPV) Human Papillomavirus detection and progression. Despite favorable attitudes toward prevention, cultural, economic, and emotional barriers persist. Preventive practices were mostly inadequate, and academic and sociodemographic factors influence behaviors, highlighting the need to strengthen reproductive health education. Keywords: cervical cancer, students, prevention, screening