Conocimientos y estilo de vida sobre prevención de cáncer gástrico en pobladores de una provincia de Lima, Perú

Introduction: Gastric cancer remains a major public health problem worldwide and in Peru. The population’s level of knowledge and the adoption of healthy lifestyles are key pillars for prevention; however, in rural areas like Canta, little information has been documented on this phenomenon. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between knowledge and lifestyle regarding gastric cancer prevention and associated factors among residents of the province of Canta, in the Andean region of Lima, Peru. Materials and methods: This study employed a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and analytical design. The sample consisted of 346 residents. Data was collected using a survey with two self-administered questionnaires: one with 28 questions to measure knowledge about gastric cancer prevention and another with 30 statements to measure lifestyle. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using Poisson regression and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). Results: Fifty percent of the residents exhibited a healthy lifestyle, while 57.23% lacked knowledge about gastric cancer prevention. In the adjusted analysis, greater knowledge and paid employment (aPR: 1.49; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a healthy lifestyle (aPR: 1.33). Age, on the other hand, showed an inverse relationship (aPR: 0.99; p = 0.023). Conclusions: Knowledge about gastric cancer prevention, younger age, and paid employment are significantly associated with the adoption of healthy lifestyles among the residents. These findings will provide important information for developing culturally appropriate public health interventions aimed at improving health education and early detection in rural areas.