Assessment of Knowledge, attitude and sexual behavior among youth and its association with EBV in Lebanon

Abstract

Sexual activity constitute in the life of the adolescent, a risk-taking and possibly health-compromising behavior. Since unfortunately, knowledge about sexuality is often acquired after sexual activity has begun, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) should be given high priority in health care and in education. Sexual education is an indispensable need, especially for adolescents, in order to protect them from irresponsible and non-conscious behavior. In the areas of adolescent sexual behavior, sexual education and knowledge, it is imperative and of paramount importance that the health-care system focus on this target group. For this reason, this project was based on two studies that were carried out with the aim of: 1) detecting the prevalence of STD, such as EBV, and its risks in a rural population of Lebanon and 2) evaluating the knowledge base for the development of sexual education in school students. To accomplish this work, data of EBV infection was collected from Becharreh Governmental Hospital to investigate its prevalence. Similarly, surveys were conducted in two schools to qualify knowledge of sexuality among students. The data collected from the studies were analyzed via SPSS 20. Results have shown that a lack of knowledge is widespread in society, as is the risk of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the increase in its prevalence due to unconscious and irresponsible practice. Programs and awareness should be designed in order to address the age-appropriate sexual information delivery, as well as to teach the risks associated with STIs and proper use of prevention techniques in order to avoid the propagation of STI occurrence.