Awareness, Attitudes, and Acceptance Toward Gender Correction Among Undergraduate Students at King Faisal University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Gender correction is a medical procedure primarily performed on intersex individuals to align their physical characteristics with their assigned gender at birth. In Saudi Arabia, gender correction is performed under medical recommendation and follows Islamic law principles, which distinguish between correction due to biological ambiguity and gender transition, the latter of which is not accepted in Islamic jurisprudence. This study aimed to investigate the awareness, attitudes, and acceptance of gender correction among undergraduate students at King Faisal University. Methods A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted between January 2023 and April 2024 with 400 undergraduate students from King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire covering demographic details, gender-related awareness, and attitudes. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using JASP software. Results A total of 400 students participated in the study. Most students (65%) had a low level of awareness regarding gender correction. Similarly, 65.5% had low awareness of the distinction between gender correction and transgender identity. Additionally, 50.7% of students held negative attitudes toward individuals who had undergone gender correction. Conclusions The findings indicate a significant lack of awareness and prevalent negative attitudes toward gender correction among undergraduate students. These