University Of Cuenca's SISA App Targets Earlier HPV Screening

The University of Cuenca is working on a local health project that could make HPV screening easier to complete.

The research program focuses on the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and proposes self-sampling as an alternative to expand early detection of cervical cancer.

The disease causes 1,709 new cases and 933 deaths each year in Ecuador.

What SISA Does

The project team developed SISA, the Sistema Inteligente de Salud Sexual y Autocuidado.

SISA combines a mobile application, a website, and an artificial-intelligence-based virtual assistant to guide women through the process.

In the current phase, the study is measuring whether SISA increases adherence to cervical cancer screening, meaning whether the tool helps more women complete early detection.

The first validation took place in Baños, where researchers evaluated the tool's operation and acceptance among women ages 30 to 65.

Local Parishes In The Research

The line of research has been underway at the University of Cuenca since 2018.

Researchers evaluated self-sampling in El Valle, Sinincay, Ricaurte, Chiquintad, Nulti, and Baños, where close to 2,000 women have participated since 2019.

The new sample collection began in July and will continue until October. The project itself is scheduled to continue until February 2027.

One reason the team is pushing access is simple: four out of five women in Ecuador have never had a cervical cancer detection test.

The self-sampling molecular tests reach sensitivity close to 95% for detecting HPV, compared with more than 50% for a Pap smear. If a molecular test is negative, it can be repeated after five years. If it is positive, the protocol includes a gynecological evaluation and colposcopy.

SISA is available for Android and iPhone.