Más allá de la prevención: explorando conocimientos actitudes y prácticas sobre el virus del papiloma humano en niñas de Colombia.

Introduction. The Human Papillomavirus, a globally prevalent sexually transmitted infection, significantly impacts health, especially in women. Promotion and prevention strategies, encompassing education, access to vaccination for girls, early detection, and mitigation of risk factors, aim to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Objective. To analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of a population of girls aged 9 to 17 regarding the Human Papillomavirus and cervical cancer in Colombia. Methodology. A comparative descriptive study involving 1806 girls aged 9 to 17 from selected territories. The survey technique was employed, and the instrument was designed and calibrated with input from experts in the field. Data were processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The study obtained approval from the bioethics committee. Results. The educational intervention enhanced knowledge about the Human Papillomavirus, although some gaps were identified. Attitudes demonstrated a widespread acceptance of the vaccine, although concerns about potential adverse reactions emerged. Although vaccination coverage was high, there were cases where not all doses were completed. Additionally, barriers and a lack of information persisted among girls regarding vaccination. Conclusion. This study enables the assessment of the impact of public health interventions, highlighting a significant increase in knowledge about HPV, improving perception, and willingness toward vaccination. Although challenges persist, reinforcing Health Education emerges as essential to overcome barriers and promote informed decision-making on sexual and reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]