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Contraception knowledge and practices among students in Lebanese universities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2022

Georges Abi Tayeh Open the ORCID record for Georges Abi Tayeh [Opens in a new window] ,
Khalil Khalil ,
Alexandra Khoury ,
Samer Maalouf ,
Fersan Mansour ,
Elie Attieh ,
Serge Sassine ,
Melissa Abi Antoun  and
Hoda Zakaria
Georges Abi Tayeh*
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Khalil Khalil
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Alexandra Khoury
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Samer Maalouf
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Fersan Mansour
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Elie Attieh
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Serge Sassine
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Melissa Abi Antoun
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
Hoda Zakaria
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, St Joseph University and Hôtel-Dieu de France University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
*
*Corresponding author: Email: georges.abitayeh@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of contraception users among Lebanese youth, and the extent of knowledge and perception on birth control; and to raise awareness and sensitise young adults to sexual health, which remains taboo in Lebanon. The 30-item questionnaire was broadcasted to students in private and public universities in Lebanon, through social media and it collected information on contraception use and student knowledge. Over 30% of responders were medical students, and 41% have ever used contraceptives (mostly women); among which, 52.1% for contraception versus 47.9% for medical reasons. According to responders, the pill ranked high in terms of effectiveness (72.4% of responders perceive the pill as effective), followed by the male condom (69.1%) and the hormonal intrauterine device (29.6%). Some would not use contraception in the future, for religious reasons (30.8%) or for fear of complications (46.2%); indeed, around a third of contraceptive users (all female) have experienced adverse effects. Finally, students expressed concern about long-term complications of contraceptive use (pulmonary embolism/phlebitis, breast/endometrial/ovarian cancer, stroke, depression and myocardial infarction). Though less frequent than in the Western world, contraception use in Lebanon is non-negligible and gaps in university students’ knowledge on contraception were identified; which should prompt sexual education and family planning initiatives in Lebanon.

Keywords

ContraceptionLebanonuniversity studentscontraception efficacyadverse effectscomplicationsreligionsex education
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , March 2023 , pp. 213 - 223
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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