Abstract Purpose – This study explores the potential impact of war on STI services in Lebanon. Design/methodology/approach – Programmatic STI service data from Lebanon were analyzed, alongside a targeted review of the literature on conflict-affected settings, using public health databases covering the period 2014-2024. Findings – Evidence-based STI service packages for conflict settings remain limited. Drawing insights from the COVID-19 crisis, periods of emergencies are associated with an elevated risk of STI surges among key populations. Programmatic data from the conflict further demonstrated this increased risk, reflected in reductions in prevention and early detection activities compared with pre- and post- conflict periods. Self-care and outreach service packages could be critical in these contexts. Practical implications – Community-based organizations (CBOs) should adapt STI services to the wartime environment and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions post-conflict. CBOs are encouraged to prioritize the implementation of self-care modalities for STI prevention and early detection, expand the availability of telehealth services, and deploy mobile clinics to maximize service continuity. Originality/value – This paper analyzes STI service delivery within the specific context of the Lebanese war. Keywords Lebanon, Sexual health, War, Armed conflict, Community-based organizations Paper type Editorial Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this editorial.
Assi et al. (2026) studied this question.