Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the sexual health literacy scale in young Syrian refugees

The sexual health literacy of young refugees has not been investigated in detail due to the lack of a sufficient assessment tool in the literature. This study aims to perform validity and reliability analysis of the Arabic version of the Sexual Health Literacy Scale (SHLS) in a sample consisting of young Syrian refugee university students. This methodological study was conducted in December 2023 with 191 young Syrian refugee students at a university in XXX, XXX. Content validity of the scale was assessed in three stages: translation, back translation, and cultural adaptation. Besides, construct validity was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and internal consistency reliability with Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and total item correlation. CFA demonstrated that the Arabic version of the SHLS had two sub-dimensions and 16 items. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was 0.85, indicating the scale was reliable. Male participants studying in health-related departments, aware of sexual health literacy, educated on sexual health, and confident in their knowledge scored significantly higher on the scale. This is the first study investigating the SHLS's validity and reliability in young refugees. Given its acceptable validity and reliability, further research is needed in diverse, broader samples to clarify its applicability in different settings.