Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and future practices toward the concept of premarital screening among unmarried Lebanese adults: A cross-sectional study

Premarital screening (PMS) is an intervention designed to reduce the burden of genetic and sexually transmitted diseases. Understanding individuals' knowledge, attitudes and future practices (KAP) toward PMS is essential for promoting informed decision-making in marriage planning. This study aims to assess the KAP of unmarried Lebanese individuals toward PMS and to identify the factors associated with these constructs. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in Lebanon between April and May 2025, using snowball sampling through social media platforms. The survey comprised sociodemographic questions and three sections to assess the KAP toward PMS. Descriptive statistics summarized participants' characteristics and outcomes, while independent t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses examined associations and predictors. A total of 422 unmarried participants (mean age: 23.34 ± 3.62 years) completed the survey. The mean knowledge and attitude scores were 17.86 ± 3.25 and 37.89 ± 3.59, respectively. Most participants (97.4%) indicated that they would carry out PMS, and 96.7% disagreed with consanguineous marriage. Higher knowledge scores were found among participants working in the healthcare field (p < 0.001), those who had heard about PMS (p < 0.001), and those who knew its objectives (p < 0.001). Females (p = 0.034), individuals with a history of genetic disease (p < 0.001), and those aware of PMS (p = 0.002) had significantly higher attitude scores. Multiple linear regression analysis identified working in the healthcare field (p = 0.002), marital status (p = 0.006), and awareness of PMS (p = 0.003) as significant predictors of higher knowledge scores. For attitude scores, higher knowledge (p < 0.001) and intention to carry out PMS (p = 0.040) emerged as significant independent predictors. This study revealed a moderate level of knowledge and a good attitude toward PMS among unmarried Lebanese individuals, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions to enhance PMS concepts.