Socioeconomic profile of Nursing and Obstetrics students at a university branch in northern Paraguay, 2024

Abstract

The socioeconomic vulnerability of university students is a significant determinant of access to, retention in, and academic performance at university, especially in regional contexts characterized by structural inequalities. The objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic vulnerability of students at the Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics of the National University of Asunción, Concepción Branch, during 2024, considering sociodemographic variables, individual socioeconomic conditions, educational level and occupation of immediate family members, family income, and the availability of goods and services in the home. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted. The population consisted of 80 first- and second-semester students from the Nursing and Obstetrics programs, included through census sampling. Data collection was carried out using a structured and institutionally validated questionnaire, and the analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The results showed a predominance of female students, high economic dependence on family support, family incomes mostly up to two minimum wages, parental employment in low-skilled sectors, and limited access to technological resources, particularly computers and internet connectivity. Socioeconomic classification placed over 90% of the students in the low and lower-middle socioeconomic levels. It is concluded that the student population comes primarily from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds, highlighting the need to strengthen institutional strategies for academic, technological, and socioeconomic support aimed at promoting student retention and completion of university studies.