Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The UK National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) have been undertaken decennially since 1990 and provide a key data source underpinning sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policy. Further information is available from the Natsal website.
The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, 2010-2012 is the third survey in the series. Natsal-3 aimed to provide up-to-date information on key sexual behaviours and risk factors, as well as to look at trends over time by including comparable measures to those used in the previous two surveys, and to include new questions and an extended age range to take account of current information needs in the field of sexual health. Natsal-3 includes an online follow-up alongside the main dataset. The main objectives of Natsal-3 were to: provide a detailed understanding of patterns and variability of sexual behaviour in Britain (including, for example, numbers of sexual partners, frequency of different sexual practices, and homosexual experience); provide self-reported estimates of a range of sexual and reproductive health outcomes (including, for example, pregnancy, STI diagnosis, contraception use) and health service use;explore sexual behaviour and function over the life-course by including an older age group (up to age 74); describe changes in sexual activity over time and trends in relationships, reproductive history and patterns of fertility (using Natsal-1, Natsal-2 and Natsal-3); from urine samples, measure the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, type-specific Human Papillomavirus, HIV antibody and Mycoplasma genitalium;measure the gender-specific distribution of salivary testosterone and its relationship to sexual behaviour, function and ageing. Latest Edition Information For the second edition (May 2017) data and documentation from the web follow-up survey were added to the study. The web follow-up was carried out in 2012, following up Natsal participants one to two months after they had completed a survey interview. It included a reduced version of the original survey questionnaire for completion online.
Main Topics:
The face-to-face interview included sections on: general health; alcohol consumption; smoking; body mass index; family history; learning about sex; first sexual experiences; contraception; periods and menopause; household classification; previous live-in partnerships; household composition; employment; qualifications; parents occupation; ethnicity; sexual identity; religion and internet access. The self-completion questionnaire included sections on: heterosexual behaviour; same-sex behaviour; heterosexual partnerships; same-sex partnerships; overlapping partnerships; online partnerships; total partnerships; detailed partnerships; travel and sex abroad; non-consensual sex; paying for sex; pregnancy history; unplanned pregnancy; family formation; fertility intentions and infertility; sexually transmitted infections; HIV testing; sexual function; drug use; mood and wellbeing and circumcision. The online follow-up questionnaire included sections on: the patterns and variability of sexual behaviour in Britain; sexual and reproductive health; sexually transmitted infections; travel and sex abroad; paying for sex; HIV testing; sexual function; drug use; and attitudinal questions. Users should note that some variables have been removed or recoded for anonymity and confidentiality reasons.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
Self-completion
Clinical measurements
Web-based survey
