Core indicators for sexual behaviour and sociodemographic characteristics of respondents in the Danish sexual behaviour survey
| ECDC-suggested core indicators in youth* | Included variables in the Danish sexual behaviour survey | Data handling of included variables |
|---|---|---|
| ▸ Sexual orientation | ▸ Sexual orientation | ▸ Categorised into: heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, other |
| ▸ Age at sexual debut or at least proportion of sexually active at age 15 | ▸ Age at sexual debut ▸ Age difference between index person and partner at sexual debut | ▸ Age at sexual debut: mean (SD) and grouped into: 10–13, 14–18, 19–24, 25–28 ▸ Age difference categorised into: partner younger, no difference, partner 1–5 years older, partner more than 5 years older |
| ▸ Use of contraception at sexual debut | ▸ Use of contraception at sexual debut (‘Did you or your partner use…’) | ▸ Contraception categorised into: dual protection†, condom alone, non-condom contraception alone†, no contraception (If men reported ‘Do not know’, they were categorised as having used ‘No contraception’) |
| ▸ Number of sexual partners during the last year | ▸ Number of sexual partners during the last year | ▸ Categorised into four groups for each period of time: no partner, 1 partner, 2–5 partners, >5 partners |
| ▸ Use of contraception at last sexual encounter during the last year, including type of partner (steady, casual or paid) | ▸ Use of contraception at last sexual encounter during the last year, including type of partner (steady or casual‡) | ▸ For both steady and casual‡ partner, use of contraception is categorised into: dual protection†, condom alone, non-condom contraception alone†, no contraception (If men reported ‘Do not know’, they were categorised as having used ‘No contraception’) |
| ▸ Experience of HIV testing (ever tested, date and result) | ▸ Experience of HIV testing and other STIs (ever tested) | ▸ History of test dichotomised into: ever tested yes/no |
| ▸ Having paid for sex in the last 12 months and condom use at last paid sexual intercourse | ▸ Have ever paid for sex | ▸ Dichotomised into: ‘Had ever paid for sex’ or not |
| ▸ Knowledge of HIV (UNGASS 13) | ▸ Not included | ▸ Not included |
| ▸ Sociodemographic indicators: level of education and nationality/ethnic origin | ▸ Sociodemographic indicators: ethnicity§, ongoing and highest completed education, highest level of parents’ education | ▸ Ethnicity: Danish, Western or non-Western immigrants§ ▸ Ongoing and completed education (in years)¶:≤10, 11–15, >15 ▸ Highest level of parents’ education (in years)¶: ≤10, 11–15, >15 |
*Refs.8 ,9
†Dual protection indicated both condom and non-condom contraception. Non-condom contraception encompassed hormonal contraception methods, intrauterine devices and barrier methods.
‡Steady and casual partners are defined based on the item: ‘Would you say that you have/have had a steady relationship with this person?’
§Categorised according to the definition of developed countries by Statistics Denmark.20
¶Classified according to UNESCO's classification as low (≤10 years), middle (11–15 years) and higher education (>15 years).
ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; STI, sexually transmitted infection; UNGASS, United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.