National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles
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TheNational Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles(Natsal) are a series of surveys of people in theGreat Britainregarding their sexual behaviour and patterns, and are among the largest scientific studies of sexual behaviours in the world.[1]The rounds of surveys completed to date are Natsal-1 (1990–1991) and Natsal-2 (2000–2001) and Natsal-3 (2010–2012), as well as Natsal-COVID (2020-2021).[2]Data collection for Natsal-4 is taking place from September 2022 to December 2023.[3]Natsal-4's Principal Co-investigators are Pam Sonnenberg and Cath Mercer, both professors atUniversity College, London.[4]
Natsal's findings are widely used in research and policy making, and have influenced public health policy in areas such as: The National Sexual Health & HIV Strategy in England; the Scottish Sexual Health Strategy (2005-) and the Welsh Sexual Health Strategy, The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (2000-2010), the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), the nationalhuman papillomavirus(HPV) immunisation programme in 2008/9, the statutory provision ofpersonal, social, health and economic education(PHSE) education in schools in 2009, Sexual health campaigns such as "Sex: worth talking about" in 2010, and theNational Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE) guidelines on long acting contraception (2006).[5]
History[edit]
The first Natsal survey was carried out in 1990, in response to the urgent need of understanding sexual practices in the context of theHIV/AIDS epidemic.[6]The Principal Investigator of Natsal-1, Natsal-2 and Natsal-3 wasAnne Johnson,a professor at University College, London,[7]and co-leaderKaye Wellings,a professor at theLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.[8]
The Natsal-3 survey revealed, among other things, that British people are having sex less often than they did 20 years ago,[9]but that same-sex experiences between women were growing more numerous.[10]
Key publications[edit]
- Mercer, Catherine H.; Clifton, Soazig; Riddell, Julie; Tanton, Clare; Freeman, Lily; Copas, Andrew J.; Dema, Emily; Pérez, Raquel Bosó; Gibbs, Jo; Macdowall, Wendy; Menezes, Dee; Ridge, Mary-Clare; Bonell, Chris; Sonnenberg, Pam; Field, Nigel (2022-11-01)."Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID)".Sexually Transmitted Infections.98(7): 469–477.doi:10.1136/sextrans-2021-055210.ISSN1368-4973.PMC8687784.PMID34916335.
- Johnson, Anne M; Mercer, Catherine H; Erens, Bob; Copas, Andrew J; McManus, Sally; Wellings, Kaye; Fenton, Kevin A; Korovessis, Christos; Macdowall, Wendy (2001). "Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnerships, practices, and HIV risk behaviours".The Lancet.358(9296): 1835–1842.doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(01)06883-0.PMID11741621.S2CID37954044.
- Mercer, Catherine H; Tanton, Clare; Prah, Philip; Erens, Bob; Sonnenberg, Pam; Clifton, Soazig; Macdowall, Wendy; Lewis, Ruth; Field, Nigel (2013)."Changes in sexual attitudes and lifestyles in Britain through the life course and over time: findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal)".The Lancet.382(9907): 1781–1794.doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(13)62035-8.PMC3899021.PMID24286784.
- Wellings, Kaye; Nanchahal, Kiran; Macdowall, Wendy; McManus, Sally; Erens, Bob; Mercer, Catherine H; Johnson, Anne M; Copas, Andrew J; Korovessis, Christos; Fenton, Kevin A; Field, Julia (December 2001). "Sexual behaviour in Britain: early heterosexual experience".The Lancet.358(9296): 1843–1850.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06885-4.PMID11741623.S2CID35905955.
- Fenton, Kevin A; Korovessis, Christos; Johnson, Anne M; McCadden, Angela; McManus, Sally; Wellings, Kaye; Mercer, Catherine H; Carder, Caroline; Copas, Andrew J; Nanchahal, Kiran; Macdowall, Wendy; Ridgway, Geoff; Field, Julia; Erens, Bob (December 2001). "Sexual behaviour in Britain: reported sexually transmitted infections and prevalent genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection".The Lancet.358(9296): 1851–1854.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06886-6.PMID11741624.S2CID26108172.
References[edit]
- ^[https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-health/national-surveys-sexual-attitudes-and-lifestyles-natsalNational Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, UCL.
- ^[https://www.natsal.ac.uk/natsal-surveys/Natsal Surveys.
- ^Natsal: The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles,National Centre for Survey Research.
- ^Meet the Natsal team.
- ^About Natsal.
- ^"National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) | LSHTM".www.lshtm.ac.uk.July 27, 2018.
- ^"Survey examines changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes in Britain".www.wellcome.ac.uk.Retrieved2015-10-14.
- ^Lane, Richard (2013-11-30)."Kaye Wellings: pioneering figure in sexual health".The Lancet.382(9907): 1773.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62346-6.ISSN0140-6736.PMID24286783.S2CID8753572.
- ^"Cambridge professor's in-depth analysis of sex survey reveals couples' secrets beneath the sheets".Cambridge News. 29 March 2015.Retrieved30 March2015.
- ^"How to conduct a sex survey".The Economist.ISSN0013-0613.Retrieved2023-01-26.
Further reading[edit]
- Caroline Overy; Lois Reynolds;Tilli Tansey,eds. (2011).History of the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.Wellcome Witnesses to Contemporary Medicine.History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group.ISBN978-0-902238-74-9.WikidataQ29581782.