Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, perceptions and experiences of women in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: There is no formal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education currently offered in Saudi Arabia. Lack of knowledge and misconceptions are evident among Saudi women, which can lead to negative sexual and reproductive experiences. The aim of this study is to explore Saudi women's SRH knowledge, perceptions and experiences. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with Saudi women were conducted. Interviews took place in a public hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, recorded and transcribed verbatim, to allow for thematic analysis of the data. The following themes were identified: experience with menarche, deep-rooted negative views towards sex, difficulty discussing SRH topics, knowledge of sex and reproduction, generational gap, sources of SRH information and the role of the mother. Results: A total of 28 women, both married and unmarried, aged 20-50 years were interviewed. A profound lack of SRH knowledge was observed among Saudi women which contributed greatly to negative experiences both in childhood and adulthood. Lack of knowledge about menstruation often caused emotional distress for young girls, and menarche was associated with bad memories and negative emotions. Lack of knowledge about sexual intercourse and the deep-rooted negative views towards sex were linked with physical and psychological issues for women. Women rarely received information from their parents or teachers and preferred the internet for their SRH information. Conclusion: There is a substantial unmet need for SRH education for women in Saudi Arabia. It is our recommendation that SRH education should be tailored to meet Saudi women's unique needs, while understanding specific socio-cultural barriers to SRH education and discussions. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards regulating and producing evidence-based health information on the internet, particularly Arabic language websites.

Challenges of sex education for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder from the Saudi family’s perspective

“…The failure by parents to use effective methods and strategies for adolescents on the concept of their sexuality could generate the emergence of many inappropriate sexual behaviors in the society in which they live (Masoudi et al, 2021). Therefore, it is imperative sexual education is offered, so parents are knowledgeable of their role and how to best educate their children (Alomair et al, 2021).…”

“…Additional criteria suggested knowledge in sexual matters related to adolescence, such as receiving prior education or training, even if it was obtained independently or informally from friends or social media. Because there is not often formal sexual training in Saudi Arabia, former background included parents obtaining information from the internet, which is one of the primary sources of sexual education in Saudi Arabia (Alomair et al, 2021). However, this was not a requirement, because the researchers wanted a range of previous training from the participants.…”

Dukungan Sosial dan Ketersediaan Informasi Mempengaruhi Kesiapan Remaja Putri dalam Menghadapi Menarche

“…Remaja putri dengan usia menarche dini memiliki 1,36 kali kemungkinan mengalami gejala depresi dibandingkan dengan kelompok menarche normal (Shen et al, 2019). Menarche dapat menimbulkan perubahan psikologis berupa emosional yaitu perasaan cemas (Abadi et al, 2015;Alomair et al, 2021;Marvan et al, 2017). Selain itu, ketidaksiapan dalam menghadapi menarche dapat berdampak pada masalah kurangnya kebersihan diri (personal hygiene) sehingga beresiko terjadi infeksi organ reproduksi.…”

Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Wellbeing Among Saudi Women: a Qualitative Study

“…The differences in sexual and reproductive health services can be attributed to a number of factors such as unavailability of skilled staff in sexual health, lack of specialised health services, religious beliefs, and societal norms (Amado, 2004). Socio-cultural and religious factors can have a negative impact on women's sexual and reproductive wellbeing (Abdolsalehi-Najafi & Beckman, 2013;Alomair et al, 2021).…”

“…This is an urgent public health matter since there is an alarming lack of sexual health knowledge amongst Saudi women (Alquaiz et al, 2012;El-Tholoth et al, 2018), with poor sexual health knowledge linked to increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and unsafe abortions (Glasier et al, 2006). In addition to poor health outcomes, lack of sexual and reproductive health knowledge contributes greatly to negative sexual and reproductive experiences, and has been linked with emotional distress and psychological issues for Saudi women (Alomair et al, 2021).…”