Assessing Women’s Knowledge and Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Study

TL;DR

This study examines the knowledge and misconceptions about STIs among Saudi women, finding moderate awareness with significant gaps in transmission, symptoms, and prevention.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of STI knowledge in Saudi women, identifying key misconceptions and factors influencing awareness.

Findings

Moderate STI knowledge was observed, with gaps in transmission routes, symptoms, and prevention methods.

Misconceptions include STI transmission through casual contact and the belief that STIs are always symptomatic.

Higher education and digital platforms were strongly linked to better STI awareness and knowledge.

Abstract

This study aimed to comprehensively assess the knowledge, awareness, and misconceptions regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 600 women aged 18–55 from various regions across the country. The findings revealed moderate overall STI knowledge, with gaps in understanding transmission routes (31.7%), recognizing symptoms (40.8%), and awareness of prevention methods (35.2%). Prevalent misconceptions included the belief that STIs can spread through casual contact (38%), only individuals with multiple partners are at risk (30%), and STIs are always symptomatic (32%). Demographic factors such as age, education level, and marital status significantly influenced STI knowledge, while residential area did not. Higher education, particularly bachelor’s degrees and above, was strongly associated with better awareness. Digital platforms like the internet and social media emerged as significant sources of STI information. Undergoing STI testing, discussing STIs with partners, using protection, and receiving the HPV vaccine were linked to higher knowledge levels. This study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions, integration of sexual health education into curricula, training healthcare providers, community engagement, and leveraging digital platforms to enhance STI awareness and prevention efforts among Saudi women.