(048) Women's Knowledge about Female Masturbation

Abstract

The scarcity of in-depth studies on female masturbation testifies to the lack of attention paid to this crucial subject and to the cultural hurdles to talking about such a subject. This absence of evidence prevents healthcare practitioners from understanding women's experiences, needs, and challenges regarding their sexuality and sexual autonomy. It is therefore imperative to fill this knowledge gap with research studies that look at the cultural, social, and religious specificities specific to female masturbation. The main objective of this study is to assess the knowledge of women regarding female masturbation taking into consideration their cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. We present a cross-sectional study based on an online 15-item questionnaire posted once per week, 5 weeks in a row from March 14, 2023. The online self-administered questionnaire was presented in the local written dialect. The questionnaire was divided into a sociodemographic section, a general knowledge assessment of genitalia and the sexual female function, and a section about the misconceptions and knowledge about female masturbation. All participants were self-designated female participants over the age of 18, recruited from sports centers' Facebook and Instagram pages. The study included 213 participants, 82% of who have attended high education institutions, and 70% were single. The mean age was 25 [18, 45]. Internet was the participants' primary informational source in 64%. Friends were the second source of information with 15%. With regard to the participants' knowledge, the results of the study reveal a diversity of levels of knowledge within our population. Some participants demonstrated a limited or incorrect understanding of female masturbation, often influenced by cultural, and religious beliefs or preconceived ideas. This inaccurate knowledge contributes to the spread of negative stereotypes and judgments about practice. It is important to recognize that female masturbation often remains a difficult subject to discuss and is surrounded by social taboos. In light of our findings, it is clear that additional efforts are needed to promote better understanding and acceptance of female masturbation through comprehensive sexuality education programs. No.