TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Lebanese university students related to sexually transmitted diseases
T2 - a cross-sectional study
AU - Sleiman, Vanessa
AU - Obeid, Sahar
AU - Sacre, Hala
AU - Salameh, Pascale
AU - Hallit, Souheil
AU - Hallit, Rabih
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Medicinska Naklada Zagreb. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Aim To appraise Lebanese university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in March and April 2020. A total of 402 students (67.9% wom-en) from ten universities located in different Lebanese re-gions were recruited through convenient sampling. Results Pursuing a major in non-health sciences compared with a major in health sciences (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.08) was significantly associated with lower odds of having better knowledge of STDs. Older age (aOR = 1.09) was significantly associated with higher odds of having better knowledge of STDs. Having good vs poor knowledge (aOR = 3.88) was significantly associated with higher odds of having favorable attitudes toward STDs, whereas pursuing a major in non-health sciences compared with a major in health sciences (aOR = 0.28) was significantly associated with lower odds of having favorable attitudes toward STDs. Women compared with men (aOR = 2.21) had higher odds of having healthier practices related to STDs. Attitude did not mediate the association between knowledge and practice. Conclusion Attitude did not significantly mediate the association between knowledge and practice. Therefore, educational programs and awareness campaigns should be implemented in secondary schools and among vulner-able non-medical students. Such efforts can help students identify the symptoms of STDs, seek medical attention, and make informed decisions to protect themselves.
AB - Aim To appraise Lebanese university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in March and April 2020. A total of 402 students (67.9% wom-en) from ten universities located in different Lebanese re-gions were recruited through convenient sampling. Results Pursuing a major in non-health sciences compared with a major in health sciences (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.08) was significantly associated with lower odds of having better knowledge of STDs. Older age (aOR = 1.09) was significantly associated with higher odds of having better knowledge of STDs. Having good vs poor knowledge (aOR = 3.88) was significantly associated with higher odds of having favorable attitudes toward STDs, whereas pursuing a major in non-health sciences compared with a major in health sciences (aOR = 0.28) was significantly associated with lower odds of having favorable attitudes toward STDs. Women compared with men (aOR = 2.21) had higher odds of having healthier practices related to STDs. Attitude did not mediate the association between knowledge and practice. Conclusion Attitude did not significantly mediate the association between knowledge and practice. Therefore, educational programs and awareness campaigns should be implemented in secondary schools and among vulner-able non-medical students. Such efforts can help students identify the symptoms of STDs, seek medical attention, and make informed decisions to protect themselves.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169410441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3325/cmj.2023.64.213
DO - 10.3325/cmj.2023.64.213
M3 - Article
C2 - 37654033
AN - SCOPUS:85169410441
SN - 0353-9504
VL - 64
SP - 213
EP - 221
JO - Croatian Medical Journal
JF - Croatian Medical Journal
IS - 4
ER -