CONOCIMIENTOS, ACTITUDES Y PRÁCTICAS SOBRE EL TEST DE PAPANICOLAOU EN MUJERES DE LA ZONA RURAL VERSUS LA URBANA DE MILAGRO-ECUADOR

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality in Ecuador, although its diagnosis can be early due to the use of tests such as Pap smear. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices about the Pap smear in women from rural and urban areas of Milagro, Ecuador. An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out, where 407 women aged 21-65 years participated. The data were collected using a CAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) questionnaire, the information was analyzed using the STATA17 program. The result was that both populations had a medium level of knowledge about the Pap smear (58.1% vs 42.1%). However, attitudes and practices were considered favorable and positive, respectively (70.7% and 79.8%) only in the urban area. Furthermore, knowledge had a significant direct correlation with the attitude score (r=0.483; p<0.001) and the practice score (r=0.479; p<0.001), in the entire study population.The main reason for not taking the test was carelessness or lack of time (30.4%) in both populations. In conclusion, although a medium level of knowledge was recorded in both areas; attitudes and practices in the urban area stood out as notably higher, highlighting that this area presented protective factors for screening such as being an independent worker, while in the rural area, risk factors such as the level of secondary education. This study aims to contribute with updated information so that competent authorities can develop strategies for the prevention of cervical cancer.