Primary Submission Category: Reproductive health
Study Proposal: Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences of Lebanese Canadian Muslim women
Authors: Roa Sabra,
Presenting Author: Roa Sabra*
Culture, religion, social upbringing, personal values, and beliefs all significantly impact an individual’s sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. In a country like Canada, which prides itself on multiculturalism and diversity, healthcare providers must understand these various factors to effectively deliver care to ethnically and religiously diverse minority groups. One of these groups is the Lebanese Canadian Muslim community. Those with a Lebanese and Muslim background may carry different experiences around sexual health due to the cultural and religious emphasis on premarital chastity, especially for women.
This study aims to explore the sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of second generation Lebanese Canadian Muslim women. This population group allow us to observe the unique experience between the culture and religious values one is raised with at home versus the cultural and societal values they are experiencing outside of the home, e.g. Western society. The primary objectives of the study are: 1) Assess second generation Lebanese Canadian Muslim women’s knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with sexual health; 2) Explore cultural and religious influences on the sexual lives of second generation Lebanese Canadian Muslim women; and 3) Provide and identify recommendations for improving access to sexual health information and services for second generation Lebanese Canadian Muslim women living in Canada.
To meet these objectives, this study employs a multi-methods approach that consists of 5 components: a scoping review, a cross-sectional survey, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews. Given that many Lebanese Canadians reside in Ontario and Quebec, I will recruit participants from Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal, and Windsor. In gaining insight on the role(s) that culture and religion plays on the sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of Lebanese Canadian Muslim women, we aim to identify facilitators and barriers to accessing sexual health services and information, thereby developing recommendations to improve the delivery of sexual healthcare.