AI chatbots as 'pocket doctors': intimate health support for young women in Lebanon.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In conservative societies such as Lebanon and the broader Middle East and North Africa region, gynecological and intimate health issues are heavily stigmatized, limiting young women's access to care due to fear of judgment, privacy concerns, and cultural taboos. These barriers often result in delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, have emerged as digital tools offering anonymity, reduced embarrassment, and accessibility, potentially serving as discreet "pocket doctors" for sensitive health concerns. However, little is known about young women's perceptions and use of artificial intelligence for intimate health topics in such contexts.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative study surveyed 525 female universit

SUBMITTER: Mina A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12625598 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature