The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Premarital sex can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescents, and lack of premarital sex can be considered as a reliable policy for STD prevention, which is used by some countries such as Iran. Since the success of this policy is related to the conc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-08873-5 |
| _version_ | 1819022781261545472 |
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| author | Mohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi Saeid Mirzaei Farzaneh Zolala Ali-Akbar Haghdoost Nadia Oroomiei |
| author_facet | Mohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi Saeid Mirzaei Farzaneh Zolala Ali-Akbar Haghdoost Nadia Oroomiei |
| author_sort | Mohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Premarital sex can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescents, and lack of premarital sex can be considered as a reliable policy for STD prevention, which is used by some countries such as Iran. Since the success of this policy is related to the concept of virginity, the present study was conducted to determine the concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents. Methods In this qualitative study with phenomenological approach, the research team visited public places, including parks and coffee shops, and interviewed a number of 15–19-year-old adolescents. The data were collected using in-depth interviews with semi-structured questions and analysed using thematic analysis method. Results Several themes, including virginity as the lack of emotional relationship with the opposite sex, lack of physical contact, nonpenetrative relationship, virginity as a myth, virginity as a commitment, having an intact hymen, and not knowing the meaning of virginity, were extracted from the data. Conclusion The most reliable policy on STD prevention is the lack of premarital sex. The success of this policy is related to the concept of virginity. The findings of this study showed that the participants did not consider physical contact as the breach of virginity. This may indicate that the policy of not having sex before marriage or lack of premarital sex is not enough and Iranian adolescents are at risk of STDs. Therefore, policymakers must take steps towards modifying the concept of virginity in the adolescents’ value system and provide and implement educational programs on sexual health for adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ccdfb2dccb741b296cf8ed5d4216be8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ccdfb2dccb741b296cf8ed5d4216be82022-12-21T19:16:00ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-05-012011810.1186/s12889-020-08873-5The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative studyMohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani0Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi1Saeid Mirzaei2Farzaneh Zolala3Ali-Akbar Haghdoost4Nadia Oroomiei5Health Services Management, Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHealth Policy, Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHealth Policy, Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Bam University of Medical SciencesEpidemiology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesEpidemiology, Health Modeling Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical SciencesHealth Policy, Department of Health Management, Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Bam University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Premarital sex can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescents, and lack of premarital sex can be considered as a reliable policy for STD prevention, which is used by some countries such as Iran. Since the success of this policy is related to the concept of virginity, the present study was conducted to determine the concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents. Methods In this qualitative study with phenomenological approach, the research team visited public places, including parks and coffee shops, and interviewed a number of 15–19-year-old adolescents. The data were collected using in-depth interviews with semi-structured questions and analysed using thematic analysis method. Results Several themes, including virginity as the lack of emotional relationship with the opposite sex, lack of physical contact, nonpenetrative relationship, virginity as a myth, virginity as a commitment, having an intact hymen, and not knowing the meaning of virginity, were extracted from the data. Conclusion The most reliable policy on STD prevention is the lack of premarital sex. The success of this policy is related to the concept of virginity. The findings of this study showed that the participants did not consider physical contact as the breach of virginity. This may indicate that the policy of not having sex before marriage or lack of premarital sex is not enough and Iranian adolescents are at risk of STDs. Therefore, policymakers must take steps towards modifying the concept of virginity in the adolescents’ value system and provide and implement educational programs on sexual health for adolescents.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-08873-5VirginityAdolescentsIranVirginity policy |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi Saeid Mirzaei Farzaneh Zolala Ali-Akbar Haghdoost Nadia Oroomiei The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study BMC Public Health Virginity Adolescents Iran Virginity policy |
| title | The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study |
| title_full | The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study |
| title_short | The concept of virginity from the perspective of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | concept of virginity from the perspective of iranian adolescents a qualitative study |
| topic | Virginity Adolescents Iran Virginity policy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-08873-5 |
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