Projects / Programmes
Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes and Health
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B680 |
Biomedical sciences |
Public health, epidemiology |
sexual behaviour; sexual health; reproductive health; HIV; sexually transmitted infections; risk factors; contraception; condoms; attitudes; knowledge; epidemiology; survey; prevalence; general population; Slovenia
Researchers (5)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
08081 |
PhD Ivan Bernik |
Sociology |
Researcher |
2008 - 2011 |
351 |
| 2. |
20462 |
PhD Marta Grgič Vitek |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2008 - 2011 |
422 |
| 3. |
07782 |
PhD Irena Klavs |
Medical sciences |
Head |
2008 - 2011 |
530 |
| 4. |
24615 |
MSc Tanja Kustec |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2008 - 2011 |
178 |
| 5. |
29588 |
PhD Aleš Lamut |
Medical sciences |
Junior researcher |
2008 - 2011 |
33 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
We conducted the Slovenian National Survey of Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes and Health. Data were collected over 1999-2001 from a probability sample of the general population 18-49 years old by a combination of face-to-face interviews and anonymous self-administration of questionnaires (pencil and paper). Respondents were invited to provide a first void urine specimen for polymerase chain reaction testing for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. 1752 men and women participated, urine specimens were obtained from 1449. Statistical methods for complex survey data have been used and will be used to carry out weighted analyses. The results will be interpreted by a multidisciplinary team. We have been analysing the data since 2001. Some results were already published (e.g. the estimate of the national burden of C. trachomatis infection) in peer reviewed medical journals (5 papers in international journals with impact factor, 2 in Slovenian journal Zdravstveno Varstvo). We will continue with data analyses and preparation of publications with respect to (a) sexual behaviour and its determinants (e.g. circumstances for first heterosexual intercourse, numbers of partners during different time periods, concurrent partnerships, annual acquisition rates of new partners, paying for sex, sex with foreigners, coerced sex, frequency of heterosexual intercourse, heterosexual practices, homosexual experience and homosexual intercourse, heterosexual mixing of injecting drug users with non-users etc.), (b) contraception use and condom use, and (c) attitudes and knowledge related to sexual behaviour. The results will contribute to evidence based public health policies for sexual and reproductive health including HIV and STI prevention in Slovenia and to the improvement of health as the element for social and economical progress.
Significance for science
The first Slovenian national survey of sexual behaviours, attitudes and health conducted in a probability sample of the general population of Slovenia provided the results which are essential for evidence based policy in promoting sexual health, including the prevention of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections, which is an important public health priority. As similar results have previously not been available for countries of Central Europe with low HIV infection prevalence, our results have additional international value.
In planning and implementing the survey, we have contributed to the development of appropriate methodologies for the implementation of public health surveys in the general population of Slovenia.
Results with international relevance have been published in international peer-reviewed jurnals:
• Klavs I, Rodrigues LC, Wellings K, Weiss HA, Hayes R. Sexual behaviour and HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviours in the general population of Slovenia, a low HIV prevalence country in central Europe. Sex Transm Infect 2009; 85:132-138.
• Klavs I, Hamers FF. Male circumcision in Slovenia: results from a national probability sample survey. Sex Transm Infect 2008;84:49-50.
• Klavs I, Grgič-Vitek M. The burden of genital warts in Slovenia: results from a national probability sample survey. Euro surveill 2008;13:1-4. http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19032.
Results were also interpreted from sociological point of view with a focus on characteristics of social and cultural organisation of sexuality in Slovenia. The results have been presented at two international conferences (in 2009 and 2010) and published in two scientific papers:
• BERNIK, Ivan. Spolnost v as individualizma in racionalnosti. Družbosl. razpr., dec. 2010, letn. 26, št. 65, str. 7-24.
• BERNIK, Ivan, KLAVS, Irena, HLEBEC Valentina. Free-floating sexuality and its limits: Social conditioning of early first heterosexual intercourse in Slovenia. Annales, in press.
Both papers represent the first sociological analysis of the adult population sexual behaviour in Slovenia and address some aspects of social and cultural context for sexual behaviour in Slovenia. More extensive results will be published in a book in 2011.
Significance for the country
The results are essential for the development of evidence based public health policies and strategies in the field of sexual and reproductive health, which is one of the important public health priorities in Slovenia.
Promotion of sexual health contributes to the improvement of health as the element of social and economical development in Slovenia and is in accordance with the second Community Programme in the field of public health for the period 2008-2013, where sexual health is listed among the activities to promote healthy lifestyles through influencing health determinants.
The importance of sociological research of sexual lifestyles in Slovenia is twofold. Firstly, it increases the amount of scientific information about the characteristics of the Slovenian society in an area that has been under-researched and secondly, our research results will - when published in a book - have important sociological effects, as evidence about sexual behaviour can contribute towards increase of reflexivity and thus indirectly to changing sexual behaviour.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
