3.3.4.Student access to sexual and reproductive health-care
Asma Sarhan, a graduate of the Faculty of Science at the Lebanese University, won the silver medal in the "Individual Competition" category at the Challenge and Innovation Forum (CIF-2021) in the State of Qatar, for her own project "Salamati", which is a smart medical device that facilitates the delivery of vital signs to patients to doctors and its mission is to alert the doctor when there is any sudden disorder.
In the "Group Competition" category at the forum, Sarhan competed within the "Pulse" team with 8 groups, and her team won third place after designing a project within 48 hours, which is a device to serve pregnant women to alert them and their doctor in emergency situations.
Eng. Sarhan, the only Lebanese participating in the forum, was also a member of the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA) based on her fulfillment of the conditions for joining the Federation.
It is known that the Challenge and Innovation Forum (CIF), which was organized in Qatar between November 7 and 11, 2021, included a series of competitions, events and interactive scientific programs that aimed to motivate and encourage about a hundred participating inventors from forty countries.
It is noteworthy that Sarhan pursued her research master's degree in medical physics and bioimaging at the Deanship of the Faculty of Science / Lebanese University and recently graduated.
All Lebanese University students are covered by social security in all kinds of services, including sexual and reproductive health services, services that they can access for free at any time. Regarding the information and education part, the key messages are delivered in regular courses or conferences.
Researches have been carried out at the University to analyze the knowledge of sexual reproduction that students have and in the same way to train in these subjects.
Abstract: We evaluated knowledge and practice of Lebanese university students regarding contraception in a cross-sectional, comparative study on students in public and private universities using an Arabic language self-administered questionnaire. We found low levels of knowledge of contraception. The majority of males (73.3%) and a few females (21.8%) declared previous sexual relations: the majority of males had used a condom (86.1%), but females had generally not used contraceptives (75.6%).
Abstract: Sexuality is still a taboo in Middle Eastern countries, and Lebanon is no exception. This study’s objective was to evaluate attitudes towards sexuality and its practice among university students in Lebanon and assess their respective correlates. The cross-sectional study was carried out among students selected from seventeen universities across Lebanon. The participants received a self-administered standardized questionnaire that assessed their attitudes towards sexuality. It included questions on socio-demographic factors, risk-taking, risky behaviors and sexuality-related questions. Among 3384 students, 2700 (79.8%) answered the questions on sexuality. Around 15% had engaged in sexual activity, while 20% were regularly sexually active. Among males, 34.8% had never had sexual activity, 29.9% had tried it and 35.3% were regularly sexually active. Among females the results were respectively 85.1%, 5.3% and 9.6% (p <0.001). Only 36% regularly used condoms during their relationships. A liberal attitude towards sex, male sex, motives for risky behaviors, current cigarette smoking and problematic alcohol consumption were associated with sexual activity. Realizing that risky behaviors are dangerous, health concerns related to sexual relationships and a liberal attitude towards sex were associated with regular condom use. However, being bothered by condoms and female sex were inversely associated with condom use. Finally, participants who had motives for, and those who felt excited about risky behaviors, and those reporting current cigarette and water pipe smoking and problematic alcohol consumption (β =0.600; p= 0.002) embraced a more liberal attitude towards sex. Conversely, females (β =−7.58; p< 0.001) and individuals who considered risky behaviors as dangerous reported an unfavorable attitude towards sexuality. A substantial proportion of Lebanese university students have regular sexual activity, but a low percentage use condoms for protection. Interventions are required among males in particular in view of these attitude and behavioral changes towards sexuality.
Abstract: Sexuality is still a taboo in Middle Eastern countries, and Lebanon is no exception. Our objective was to evaluate the attitude toward sexuality and its practice among university students and assess their respective correlates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students, selected from 17 universities across Lebanon. The participants received a self-administered standardized questionnaire that assessed their attitudes toward sexuality. The questionnaire also included socio-demographic, risk taking, risky behaviors, in addition to sexuality-related questions. The scale validity used to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of sexuality was checked before results were presented. Results: Among 3384 students, 2700 (79.8%) answered the questions on sexuality. Around 15% had engaged in sexual activity, while 20% were regularly sexually active. Among males, 34.8% had never had sexual activity, 29.9% had tried it, and 35.3% were regularly sexually active. Among females, results were respectively 85.1%, 5.3% and 9.6% (p<0.001). Only 36% regularly used condoms during their relationships. A liberal attitude towards sex, male sex, motives towards risky behaviors, current cigarette smoking and problematic alcohol consumption were associated with sexual activity. Realizing that risky behaviors are dangerous, health concerns related to sexual relationships and a liberal attitude towards sex were associated with regular condom use. However, being bothered by condoms and female sex were inversely associated with condom use. Finally, participants who have motives and those who feel excited about risky behaviors, current cigarette and water pipe smoking, and problematic alcohol consumption (beta=0.600; p=0.002) embraced a more liberal attitude toward sex. Oppositely, female’s participants (beta=-7.58; p<0.001) and individuals, who consider risky behaviors as dangerous reported an unfavorable attitude towards sexuality. Conclusion: Substantial proportions of university students have regular sexual activity, but a low percentage among them uses condoms for protection. Interventions are required among males in particular to allow for attitude and behavioral changes.
The Lebanese University also supports the Marsa Sexual Health Center which provides medical, educational, psychological, and social-sexual health services to all individuals in Lebanon regardless of nationality, gender, age, and sexual orientation in complete confidentiality.
Marsa Sexual Health Center
Marsa provides medical, educational, psychological, and social-sexual health services to all individuals in Lebanon regardless of gender, age, and sexual orientation in complete confidentiality
In addition to the above, by having a relationship with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, students can access the Reproductive Health Services free of charge.
Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
In compliance with the decisions of the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 on behalf of the Government of Lebanon, the “Reproductive Health Program” was established at the Ministry of Public Health and supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the umbrella of primary health care with a clear strategy between 1998 and 2001. The program is still ongoing through its integration within the primary health care department.
The Ministry of Public Health / Primary Health Care Department in collaboration with UNFPA provides various services regarding reproductive health and family planning in agreement with the joint annual work plan signed between the two parties.
The health services can be summarized in the following categories:
Family planning
Safe motherhood and Newborn Health
Diagnostic & Preventive Check-ups
Screening for Reproductive system diseases and reproductive tract cancers
The University also has the support of UNFPA to strengthen the quality of reproductive health care for both students and the link to support and reach underserved groups and provide them with the necessary information and care.
UNFPA
