Table 1 Summary of the articles with author, country, year, participants, methods, instruments, study purpose, and main findings

1

Ibrahim et al., 2011, Jeddah, KSA

1563 students from all faculties of KAU

Cross-sectional study, multistage stratified random sample

Researcher-developed questionnaire

The present study was conducted to assess knowledge and attitudes of unmarried female students in King Abdul-Aziz University (KAU) towards premarital screening (PMS) programs.

Students’ knowledge about the program was generally low (80 % had poor scores). Regarding attitude, almost all students (99.0%) agreed on the importance of PMS.

K, A

C

2

Al Kindi et al., 2012, Muscat, Oman

590 unmarried Omani students of both genders

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed questionnaire

The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes of Sultan Qaboos University students towards premarital screening programs.

Most of the participants (79%) were aware of the availability of premarital screening program in Oman. The vast majority of participants (92%) thought it was important to carry out premarital screening and agreed to do it.

K, A

C

3

Ebtisam and Khalil, 2014, KSA

120 King Saud University female students

Cross-sectional study, random sample

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, beliefs, and behavior of KSU female students in Riyadh, regarding the national premarital screening program (PMS).

Most of the King Saud University’s female students had fair knowledge and fair behavior towards premarital screening.

K, A

C

4

Farahat et al., 2014, Egypt

345 students from Menoufia University faculties in Shebin Elkom City

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of Menoufia University students towards premarital care (PMC).

The results of this study clearly showed that 75.1% of the participants were aware of the presence of PMC services, and the participants’ attitudes towards PMC were favorable (53.9%).

K, A

C

5

Al Khaldi et al., 2016, Amman, Jordan

542 students from four universities (two public and two private universities) located in North Jordan

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

This aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of university students in North Jordan towards the mandatory National Premarital Thalassemia Screening Program implemented in 2004.

Respondents had adequate knowledge of and positive attitudes towards the premarital screening program.

K, A

C

6

Al Nood et al., 2016, Yemen

516 students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

To assess the knowledge and attitudes of Sana University medical students towards premarital screening (PMS).

Most of the respondents (92%) knew that PMS reduces hereditary and sexually transmitted diseases, believed that it is important to carry out, and agreed to do it. Making PMS mandatory and legal prevention of marriage in case of positive results were accepted by 82% and 62% of the respondents, respectively.

K, A

C

7

Alghamadi et al., 2016, KSA

320 students of King Saud University

Cross-sectional study multistage sampling method

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

To assess knowledge of premarital screening and their relation to the socio-demographic background of male university students in Riyadh City.

Students of higher academic level showed a significantly higher level of knowledge. Knowledge of male university students about the PMS program was insufficient in some areas.

K

C

8

Enezi and Mitra, 2017, Kuwait

809 students of Kuwait University

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

The aim of the study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and satisfaction among university students regarding premarital screening programs.

92% were aware of premarital screening, and 85% showed positive attitudes towards PMS.

K, A

C

9

Melaiabri et al., 2017, KSA

380 students of Taif University

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Taif University students towards the national PMS program.

Most participants (97.4%) were aware of the PMS program and (82.9%) were willing to change their decision to marry in the case of receiving incompatible results. Moreover, the majority of the participants (91.8%) demanded the implementation of a law that prohibits incompatible marriages.

K, A

C

10

Moussa et al., 2018, KSA

640 students of seven colleges of Hail University

Cross-sectional study

Researcher-developed self-reported questionnaire

To detect the degree of knowledge and attitudes of the female university students of Hail University towards the national mandatory premarital screening program (NPMS).

Majority of the participants were aware of the availability of the program (75.5%) and (76.2 %) knew that it was obligatory to complete it before marriage.

K

C

11

Qahtani et al., 2019, KSA

541 students of King Khalid university, Nurjan

Cross-sectional study

Two stage stratified cluster sampling technique

A researcher-developed self-administered questionnaire

This study aimed to assess university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice of premarital counseling (PMC) in King Khalid University.

Nearly three out of four students had a good awareness level regarding PMC. Most of the students had a positive attitude towards PMS and their readiness to adopt the counseling before marriage.

K, A

C

12

Alhowiti, et al, 2019, KSA

437 students of Tabuk University, KSA

Cross-sectional study

A researcher-developed self-administered questionnaire

To assess the level of knowledge and the attitudes among Saudi Tabuk University students regarding premarital screening programs.

Slightly less than half of the students (48.3%) had sufficient knowledge regarding premarital screening. Almost two thirds of the students (69.8%) had a positive attitude towards premarital screening.

K, A

C