Community Engagement And Novel Technologies: A Winning Team For The Integral Management Of Cervical Cancer In A Rural Context.

According To The Who (World Health Organization) Cervical Cancer (Cc) Elimination Targets For 2030, By That Time *90% Of Girls Should Be Vaccinated Against Hpv; *70% Of Women Should Be Screened Using A High-Performance Test By Age 35, And Again By Age 45; *90% Of Those Identified With Cervical Disease Should Receive Appropriate Treatment. Whereas Solid Evidence Exists On How To Prevent Morbidity And Mortality By Cc, The Specific Situation Of Ecuador Still Deals With A High Mortality. The Incidence Rate Of Cc In Ecuador Reaches 17,8/100.000 Women. The Number Of Yearly Deaths Has Increased In Ecuador Over The Last 10 Years, And Therefore Attracted The Interest Of Public Policies. Vaccination Is Unpopular In Ecuador And A Registry Is Absent. Screening Is Performed But At Least 40% Of Women Are Never Screened In Their Lifetime And Follow Up Of Screening Is Greatly Compromised By Lack Of Capacity And Dropouts Because Of Long Waiting Times. Morbidity And Mortality Mainly Hit Women With Vulnerable Socio-Economic Status, Ethnic Minorities, And Women In Rural Areas (Geographically Isolated); Risk Circumstances Which Are Often Connected. Furthermore, Cultural Health Beliefs And The Co-Existence Of Traditional And Western Medicine Play A Role, And Environmental Issues Such As The Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic Have Further Compromised Health Care In These Groups. Causes Are A Lack Of Capacity And Long Waiting Times At The Level Of Health Care Services, And A Lack Of Accessibility Especially In Rural Areas. At The Level Of Women And Society, There Is A Lack Of Awareness And Education To Motivate Beneficiaries To Participate In Preventive Activities. Furthermore, Cultural Health Beliefs Are A Barrier For Uptake. These Factors Lead To A Poor Uptake Of Screening And Loss To Follow Up Of Screened Women. Policy Makers Have Cervical Cancer Elimination On Their Agenda But Lack Evidence-Based Information To Guide Their Actions. We Think Our Project Fits Perfectly In The New Five-Year Programme And The 2030 National Agenda Of Ecuador, In Which "Leaving No One Behind" By Strengthening The Public Health System With Specific Attention For Gender And Diverse Disadvantaged Groups Is A Top Priority.