Unraveling data on the sexual practices, values and perceptions of university youth from the Arab World: The Case of Lebanon

Youth sexuality is a tabooed topic in the Arab world, particularly among the unmarried. Using a secured online survey, this study is the first to investigate the sexual behaviors, attitudes and perceptions of private university students from Lebanon. Of those who responded to ever having had oral or anal or vaginal sex (n=1838), half (n=943) were sexually active, a third of which reported having had anal and/or oral sex particularly to avoid hymen-breaking (higher percentages among females). Penetrative sexual practices with an unfamiliar partner were 8 times more likely in males (p<0.0001). Female students, however, were twice more likely to report engaging in sexual practices when they did not really want to, and having been in a relationship where they felt things were moving too fast physically (p-value<0.0001). About 1 in 5 female students reported nonconsensual sex at sexual debut compared to 13% of males (p=0.013); again, 20% of the females reported ever having been sexually abused versus 7% of the males (p<0.0001). Males were twice more likely to be drinking or using drugs at sexual debut. Common socio-cultural concerns about sexual initiation are gaining a bad reputation (60%), social rejection (69%), religion (75%) and parental disapproval (76%), feeling guilty afterwards (70%), and losing self-respect (69%), all more commonly reported by females. Establishing baseline estimates of youth sexual values and practices, while examining gender differences, is fundamental for directing research and implementing effective youth programs.