Awareness of Importance of Premarital Counseling among Students of Kafr El-Sheikh University, Egypt

Gomaa, Hend Magdy; Eladawi, Noha; Nabil Haries Abdou, Remonda

doi:10.21608/ejcm.2024.319903.1328

Awareness of Importance of Premarital Counseling among Students of Kafr El-Sheikh University, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Public Health & Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

² Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kafr El Sheikh University, Egypt

10.21608/ejcm.2024.319903.1328

Abstract

Background: Premarital counseling is a fundamental component of preventive healthcare, designed to identify and mitigate potential genetic, congenital, and psychosocial risks within couples considering marriage. Aim: To assess awareness of university students about importance of premarital counseling. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on university students from two medical and two non-medical faculties at Kafr el-Sheikh University. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about awareness. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: a socio-demographic section based on the modified Fahmy and El-Sherbini scale, and a 16-item assessment of students' awareness of premarital counseling. Results: Total of 280 students were included with average age of 22.5 years and 82.1% were females. Approximately 92.0% were non-medical students, 71.8% single, 58.5% urban and 76.8% had positive consanguinity. The study reported that 29.6% of students heard about premarital counselling. Approximately 63.9% of students thought that marriage plans wouldn't be affected by the results of the premarital counselling. Approximately 34.3% of the students thought that premarital screening should be mandatory. The most common reason for refusing premarital counselling was "not to interfere with God's will" (27.4%) and "fear of test results" (13.7%). The following were significant predictors of students' awareness about premarital counselling, marital status, college, and socioeconomic status. Conclusion: Medical students and engaged students had higher levels of awareness of premarital counseling and its services. Health education campaigns should target university students to highlight the importance of premarital counseling. Educational elective curriculum can be added for students in nonmedical faculties.

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