Alomair, Noura;
Alageel, Samah;
Davies, Nathan;
Bailey, Julia;
(2023)
Muslim women’s knowledge, views, and attitudes towards sexually transmitted infections in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study.
PLoS One
, 18
(6)
, Article e0286822. 10.1371/journal.pone.0286822.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The cultural sensitivity surrounding sexuality in Islamic communities has an impact on awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study explores Muslim women’s knowledge, views, and attitudes towards STIs and people living with HIV/AIDs in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with Muslim women from Saudi Arabia. Interviews took place in a public hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2019. Data were transcribed, coded, and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women were interviewed, the majority were college educated and employed. Participants lacked knowledge about STIs, and there were significant misconceptions. The majority of women expressed extremely negative attitudes towards STIs, particularly towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Participants believed that judgemental attitudes and stigmatisation of people with HIV/AIDS were justified if an infection was transmitted through extramarital sex. Men were believed to be the source of STIs, and STIs were viewed as punishment from God for extramarital sexual relations that are forbidden in Islam. Protection against STIs was believed to be achieved by strengthening religious beliefs. CONCLUSION: Attitudes towards people with STIs, HIV/AIDS in particular, were highly influenced by religious views towards extramarital sex, as well as lack of knowledge and misconceptions. There is an urgent need for accurate information and improved awareness of sexual health including STIs among Muslims in Saudi Arabia. Public health efforts should be directed towards reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic communities.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Muslim women’s knowledge, views, and attitudes towards sexually transmitted infections in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0286822 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286822 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2023 Alomair et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Primary Care and Population Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10170730 |
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