OBJECTIVE: To describe the extent of sexual risk and protective behaviours and reproductive health outcomes comparing men and women of 18-29 and assess the demographic correlates of these indicators within genders. DESIGN: A module of questions on sexual behaviour and reproductive health outcomes was integrated into a population-based general health survey in Finland. METHODS: A representative sample of people over 17, including 1,894 individuals between 18 and 29 years, was drawn from the population registry in 2001. Individual interviews and self-administered questionnaires were used with a response rate of 79% for the interview and 68% for the questionnaire. RESULTS: It was more common for younger men to stay single and have multiple partners while women of the same age were cohabiting or married and chose a regular sex partner. The mean number of sexual partner for men was 5.0 (SD 5.1) and for women 3.4 (SD 2.1). Besides higher prevalence of multiple partners, men reported also casual sex contacts more often than women, 33% vs. 20%. Both genders reported relatively high and concordant rates of contraception use. However, in casual sex contacts a condom was used consistently only by less than half of both sexes. Marital status was the strongest predictor for behaviour and health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Casual sex is common among young adults in Finland and often occurs without a condom. This study shows that it is feasible to incorporate sexual behaviour questions as part of a larger health survey offering an option for monitoring sexual behaviour when funding for large-scale HIV surveys is decreasing.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the extent of sexual risk and protective behaviours and reproductive health outcomes comparing men and women of 18-29 and assess the demographic correlates of these indicators within genders. DESIGN: A module of questions on sexual behaviour and reproductive health outcomes was integrated into a population-based general health survey in Finland. METHODS: A representative sample of people over 17, including 1,894 individuals between 18 and 29 years, was drawn from the population registry in 2001. Individual interviews and self-administered questionnaires were used with a response rate of 79% for the interview and 68% for the questionnaire. RESULTS: It was more common for younger men to stay single and have multiple partners while women of the same age were cohabiting or married and chose a regular sex partner. The mean number of sexual partner for men was 5.0 (SD 5.1) and for women 3.4 (SD 2.1). Besides higher prevalence of multiple partners, men reported also casual sex contacts more often than women, 33% vs. 20%. Both genders reported relatively high and concordant rates of contraception use. However, in casual sex contacts a condom was used consistently only by less than half of both sexes. Marital status was the strongest predictor for behaviour and health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Casual sex is common among young adults in Finland and often occurs without a condom. This study shows that it is feasible to incorporate sexual behaviour questions as part of a larger health survey offering an option for monitoring sexual behaviour when funding for large-scale HIV surveys is decreasing.
Authors: Elena Regushevskaya; Tatiana Dubikaytis; Made Laanpere; Minna Nikula; Olga Kuznetsova; Hele Karro; Elina Haavio-Mannila; Elina Hemminki Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2010-06-30 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Indira Adhikari; Tiina Eriksson; Katja Harjula; Mari Hokkanen; Dan Apter; Pekka Nieminen; Tapio Luostarinen; Matti Lehtinen Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-06-01 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Minna Nikula; Mika Gissler; Vesa Jormanainen; Made Laanpere; Heikki Kunnas; Elina Haavio-Mannila; Elina Hemminki Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-07-22 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Philip Prah; Anne M Johnson; Anthony Nardone; Soazig Clifton; Jennifer S Mindell; Andrew J Copas; Chloe Robinson; Rachel Craig; Sarah C Woodhall; Wendy Macdowall; Elizabeth Fuller; Bob Erens; Pam Sonnenberg; Kaye Wellings; Catherine H Mercer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-08-07 Impact factor: 3.240