Descripción

In Colombia, cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cause of death from malignant neoplasms in women. The main causative agent is the human papillomavirus (HPV). The likelihood of developing precancerous lesions at an early stage could increase due to early exposure to risk factors, especially in vulnerable populations such as adolescent girls in the municipality of Ricaurte, Nariño. This study focused on describing the level of knowledge that a group of adolescents from two educational institutions of this municipality have about HPV infection, CC and its relationship with preventive behavior. For this purpose, a formative intervention model was implemented that integrated primary prevention strategies related to the promotion of healthy habits. The results showed that only a minority of the adolescents interviewed were familiar with the CC (31.5%). Early onset of sexual activity was identified as a risk factor for cervical cancer, although a high percentage of adolescents (73.7%) had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine. Regarding preventive measures, 90.3% of the population did not know about any preventive method; 78% had not had a gynecological examination for cytology. The intervention not only increased knowledge about cervical cancer among adolescent girls, but also provided them with the tools to make informed decisions and promote their long-term well-being.