Low-threshold discussions about sexuality belong in general practice, and intercultural competencies in the healthcare system must be strengthened. These are the results of the GeSiD study that researchers from the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) carried out together with the social research institute KANTAR and with the support of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). In total, the researchers have published almost 20 publications based on the surveys in recent years, and further publications are planned. Today (Friday, June 17th) the results will be presented at a specialist conference at the UKE.

For the first time representative data on German sexuality

Head of study Prof. Dr. Peer Briken, Director of the Institute for Sexual Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry at the UKE:

“The aim of the GeSiD study was to provide representative data on sexual behavior, sexual relationships and attitudes towards sexuality in the general population for the first time. Our results can help support prevention and education campaigns, improve offers and information materials on family planning and provide political decision-makers with relevant information - and thus, in short, improve the sexual health of the population. This is also crucial because sexual health is important for overall well-being and life satisfaction.”

Study design

For the “Health and Sexuality in Germany” (GeSiD) study, a total of 4,955 adults between the ages of 18 and 75 were comprehensively surveyed about sex-related topics between October 2018 and September 2019. The average age of the respondents was 46.3 years. With the topics of sexual behavior, attitudes towards sexuality, love and relationships, sexual desire and satisfaction, pregnancy, sexual dysfunctions, sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) and experiences with sexual violence, the GeSiD questionnaire covered a wide range of sexuality-related questions. Unlike almost all other European countries and North America, corresponding data for Germany has so far been missing.

Outcome 1: Knowledge about sexually transmitted infections ( STIs )

The GeSiD study has shown that knowledge about sexually transmitted infections - apart from HIV - is still insufficient among heterosexual adults. When asked which STI was known, 71.1 percent of those surveyed named HIV / AIDS first, followed by gonorrhea/gonorrhea (38.6 percent) and syphilis (31.9 percent). Other STIs such as chlamydia, genital warts and trichomoniasis were mentioned much less frequently (11.7 percent/4.4 percent/0.4 percent).

“It would also be necessary to offer offers for groups that are not yet taken into account enough, such as older people or people with a migrant background.”

Head of study Prof. Dr. Peer Briken, Director of the Institute for Sexual Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry at the UKE

Outcome 2: Health and Sexuality

People's general health is closely linked to their sexual activity and sexual satisfaction. If respondents describe their own health as “fair” or “poor”, the probability of sexual activity in the last four weeks compared to respondents with “very good” health for men is reduced from 79.1 percent to 59 percent or 30.1 percent and for women from 72.5 percent to 48 percent and 32.4 percent respectively.

“Low-threshold discussions about sexuality therefore belong in general practice and should be taken into account in the training and further education of medical professionals.”

Head of study Prof. Dr. Peer Briken, Director of the Institute for Sexual Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry at the UKE

Result 3: Intercultural competencies in healthcare

According to the study, first-generation migrants are significantly less likely to use sexual health services than non-migrants. Women with a migrant background were less likely to have been vaccinated against HPV , less likely to have been tested for chlamydia and less likely to have received health services related to contraceptives.

“Training in the healthcare sector should therefore also focus on promoting intercultural skills and, as a result, reducing barriers to using medical services. “In addition, targeted and low-threshold sexual health services are needed for people with a migrant background.”

Head of study Prof. Dr. Peer Briken, Director of the Institute for Sexual Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry at the UKE

Source: German Health Portal

Related: Disinformation threatens Germans' high level of trust in science


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