Projects / Programmes
National Survey of Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes and Health (SLAH 2):Analyses of sexual behaviour, knowledge, attitudes and sexual health of the general population of Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B007 |
Biomedical sciences |
Medicine (human and vertebrates) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.03 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Health sciences |
Sexual and reproductive health; sexually transmitted infections; HIV; chlamydia; survey; general population; Slovenia.
Researchers (5)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
53886 |
Lina Berlot |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2020 - 2021 |
0 |
| 2. |
20462 |
PhD Marta Grgič Vitek |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
| 3. |
07782 |
PhD Irena Klavs |
Medical sciences |
Head |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
| 4. |
24615 |
MSc Tanja Kustec |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
| 5. |
39038 |
Maja Milavec |
Psychology |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
To develop and monitor the effect of evidence based public health policies for promotion of sexual and reproductive health, including prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection, we need valid data about sexual behaviour and attitudes of the general population as well as on epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection. Such information supports the Government of Slovenia and the Ministry of Health in defining the developmental priorities in the area of sexual and reproductive health of the population, which is a public interest. The data also contribute to monitoring some indicators defined in the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV 2017-2025 adopted by the Slovenian government in April 2017.
In 2000, the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia (in Slo.: Inštitut za varovanje zdravja Republike Slovenije - IVZ) now the National Institute of Public Health (in Slo: Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje - NIJZ), coordinated the first Slovenian national survey of Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes and Health (v slo: Življenjski slog, stališča, zdravje in spolnost - ŽSSZS 1) in a probability sample of the general population 18 to 49 years old. We obtained first valid data about sexual behaviour, relevant attitudes and self-reported sexually transmitted infections. We asked all participants to contribute a first void urine specimen for testing for bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and obtained first valid estimate for the prevalence of this most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Surveillance data on sexually transmitted infections based on mandatory reporting of diagnosed cases underestimate their occurrence. We obtained estimates for some of the UNGASS (United Nations General Assembly Special Session) indicators, that were used by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to monitor the implementation of the political declaration of the United Nations General Assembly about HIV/AIDS adopted in 2001. Later they were named GARP (Global AIDS Response Programme) indicators, that were used by UNAIDS to monitor the implementation of the political declarations on HIV/AIDS adopted in 2006 and 2011. We used some of these indicators also to monitor and evaluate the Slovenian National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV infection for the period 2000-2015 adopted by the Slovenian government in 2009.
Sexual behaviour, relevant attitudes and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections change with time. We collected new data after 15 years (in 2016 and 2017) in a probability sample of the general population of Slovenians aged 18 to 49 years. We wanted to estimate again the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection with bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydial infection). We also want to estimate same indicators, which were defined in the Slovenian National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV 2017-2025 that had been addopted by the Slovenian government in April 2017 for monitoring and evaluation of its implementation. In addition, we will estimate some Global AIDS Monitoring (GAM) indicators, monitored by UNAIDS since 2017 according to the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the Fast-Track to Accelerate the Fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030.
The key research objectives of the ŽSSZS 2 are to describe in a probability sample of the general population, men and women, aged 18 to 49 in 2016:
sexual behaviour of men and women, including numbers of sexual partners during different periods of their life, paying for sex, sexual practices (vaginal, oral, anal sex and masturbation), condom use, contraception use, etc.;
the determinants of different sexual behaviour patterns associated with higher risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections;
knowledge about sex, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections;
sexual attitudes;
the distribution of differen
Significance for science
With the proposed research project, the second national survey of sexual lifestyles, attitudes and health (ŽSSZS 2), we will achieve our main research objectives. In a probability sample of Slovenian inhabitants, men and women, who were 18 to 49 years old in 2016, we will describe:
sexual behaviour, including numbers of sexual partners during different periods of their life, paying for sex, sexual practices (vaginal, oral, anal sex and masturbation), condom use, contraception use, etc.;
the determinants of different sexual behaviour patterns associated with higher risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections;
knowledge about sex, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections;
sexual attitudes;
the distribution of determinants of sexually transmitted infections.
With comparing the results of ŽSSZS 1 and ŽSSZS 2, we will be able to describe some changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes as well as occurrence of sexually transmitted infections during last 15 years.
In the second Slovenian national survey ŽSSZS 2, we have also collected first void urine specimens, which were tested for chlamydial infection. Later we will test these specimens also for some other sexually transmitted infections. Thus, we will be able to describe the distribution of sexually transmitted chlamydial infections in the general population 18 to 49 years old in 2016 and compare it to the results of the survey ŽSSZS 1. We will also obtain first valid prevalence estimates for some other sexually transmitted infections (e.g. infection with bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae) for the year 2016.
We will publish the results in peer reviewed journals.
At the NIJZ we will use the results for the development of evidence based proposals for sexual and reproductive health promotion, surveillance of sexually transmitted infections, monitoring changes in the burden of sexually transmitted infections and analysis of the effect of prevention and control efforts, as well as for the development of interventions for safer sex promotion.
The results will be presented at meetings of different associations of physicians in the Slovenian Medical Association (e.g.: Association for Preventive Medicine at the SZD, Association of Slovenian Dermatovenereologists at the SZD, Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Slovenia, Association for Infectology at the SZD), to be used for evidence based planning and implementation of health care related to sexual and reproductive health promotion, including prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection.
With the development of the protocol and implementation of the survey we will also contribute to the development of epidemiology in the area of public health in Slovenia, since the survey will be implemented according to the highest methodological standards for the implementation of national surveys of sexual behaviour and attitudes in probability samples of the general population.
Significance for the country
The results of the second Slovenian national survey ŽSSZS 2 will be of key importance for the development and monitoring of evidence based Slovenian public health policies for sexual and reproductive health promotion, including prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection at the Ministry of Health.
The results will contribute to the objectives of the theme number 3.1.6 »Analysis of sexual behaviour, knowledge, attitudes and health of the Slovenian population« within 3.1. “Integrating measures to prevent disease” and target 3 »Promotion and protection of health and optimization of health care« in the public call for proposals for research project of the targeted research programme »CRP 2017«.
The objectives of the second Slovenian ŽSSZS 2 are to describe in a probability sample of the general population of Slovenia, men and women aged 18 to 49 years:
sexual behaviour, including numbers of sexual partners during different periods of their life, paying for sex, sexual practices (vaginal, oral, anal sex and masturbation), condom use, contraception use, etc.;
the determinants of different sexual behaviour patterns associated with higher risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections;
knowledge about sex, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections;
sexual attitudes;
the distribution of and the determinants of sexually transmitted infections.
The aim is to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of HIV 2017-2015, that was adopted by the Government of Slovenia in April 2017, in particular with priority area "prevention of HIV infection" and target1 "prevention of sexual transmission".
Most important scientific results
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2018,
final report
