The Directorate for Health Information and Research within the Ministry for Health, the Elderly and Community Care, is in the process of analysing and evaluating data collected from the first National Sexual Health survey.

The National Sexual Health survey is a representative study among the population aged 16 to 40 assessing the population’s attitudes towards sexuality and sexual health, their knowledge about sexual health related issues and their sexual practices.

Fieldwork has been conducted over the first three months of 2012 among a representative sample of Maltese residents within the mentioned age group.

The implementation of this survey follows from and fulfills part of the research recommendations made by the National Sexual Health Strategy launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Health, the Elderly and Community Care.

This study has collected detailed information on a number of important indicators addressing topics such as sexual education, sexual competence, sexual activity, risky behaviours, knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and knowledge about treatment and screening facilities.

Data input and analysis is now underway in order to publish a report on the findings. The respondents who have kindly given their time for the completion of the survey have been provided with a USB drive containing a range of information leaflets and documents on the subject of sexual health. In addition, they have also been given the opportunity to take part in a lottery to win an iPad.

The information from this study will help develop targeted educational and health promotion campaigns and lead to the creation of user-driven sexual health services to meet the needs of the population.

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