Caracterización de las necesidades de las estudiantes gestantes y madres de la Universidad de Cuenca en el periodo septiembre 2022 - febrero 2023

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and maternity are life stages that imply changes for women, especially as students. These difficulties are not usually recognized in the university environment, and could negatively affect them during their academic development. Objective: Identify the needs of pregnant students and mothers of the University of Cuenca in the period September 2022 - February 2023 Methods: Type of study: Descriptive. Universe: It was found to be made up of 674 mothers of children under 6 years of age and 66 pregnant women enrolled in the University of Cuenca in the corresponding period. Sample: Made up of 333 students who accepted the informed consent. Data processing: The information was collected through a virtual form, the tabulation and analysis was carried out in the SPSS program. Results: Of the 333 students surveyed, 205 (61.6%) were between 20 and 25 years old, and 171 (51.4%) indicated they were single. Regarding the barriers, it was found that 162 (48.6%) respondents perceived a lack of support from their teachers, 148 (44.4%) experienced a negative impact on their academic performance, 205 (61.6%) respondents considered withdraw from their studies due to their pregnancy and/or maternity. Finally, 315 (94.6%) perceived the need to renew statutes that provide them with facilities in their situation. Conclusions: University pregnant women and mothers face obstacles that can affect their academic performance and lead them to abandon their studies. This supports the importance of analyzing university regulations and establishing measures to ensure inclusive and equitable educational experiences.