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Anal sex – sexual intercourse through the anus, usually insertion of the penis into the anus.
Casual partner – a person with whom you have had sex once or several times, but who is not a permanent partner (e.g. one-night stands, anonymous sexual relations, sex partners) (according to the respondent’s own estimate).
Drugs – substances that affect person’s well-being, behaviour, and perception of the world. Illegal drugs can cause addiction and be natural (e.g. marijuana) or chemically manufactured (e.g. amphetamine). Drugs are prohibited by law.
E-cigarette – an electronic cigarette, a product similar to a tobacco product. A battery-powered device that evaporates various chemical mixtures at high temperatures, which may or may not contain nicotine. Flavourings are often added (e.g. menthol, cherry, coffee, cinnamon, chocolate).
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which weakens the human immune system and increases susceptibility to other diseases. The final stage of HIV is called AIDS.
Last 12 months – 12 months preceding the date of completion of the questionnaire, not a specific year.
Last four weeks – four weeks preceding the date of completion of the questionnaire, not a specific month.
Last time – the last time the activity for which data is requested took place. It is not important whether it took place last month, a year or several years ago.
Masturbation – providing oneself with sexual pleasure; a healthy, safe and entirely natural activity.
Oral sex – oral sexual intercourse, stimulation of the genitals with the lips and tongue.
Other tobacco products – snus, snuff, chewing tobacco, hookah.
Partner, sexual partner – people who have had sex once, several times, or regularly over a longer period (i.e. permanent partner/spouse).
Poppers – recreational drugs belonging to the alkyl nitrite family of chemical compounds. When fumes from these substances are inhaled, they act as potent vasodilators, producing mild euphoria, warmth, and dizziness. Most effects have a rapid onset and are short-acting.
Sexual violence, sexual abuse – the cajoling, intimidation or coercion of a person to engage in sexual activity without being willing or able to defend himself or herself, regardless of place (home, school, workplace, etc.) and the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. Crime.
Steady partner – a girlfriend or boyfriend or life partner aka a partner with whom you have more in common than just sex (according to the respondent’s own judgement).
Vaginal sex – vaginal sexual intercourse, usually insertion of the penis into the vagina.
The Sexual Health Survey of Estonian Youth has been conducted since 2003, and took place in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, and 2021. The next study will take place in 2025.
The purpose of the survey is to get a regular overview of the sexual health of young people in Estonia related to relationships, sexuality, and sex life. The original aim of the study was to focus on young people’s HIV-related knowledge, skills and attitudes, as the study began in 2003, a time when HIV infection was prevalent among young people. To date, the objectives of the study have been expanded, encompassing more broadly the sexual health of young people. Topics to be covered:knowledge, perceptions and attitudes related to the routes of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, attitude towards people living with HIV, attitudes toward condoms, sexual behaviour of youth and the factors influencing it, HIV testing, contraception, sexual abuse, and addressing topics related to relationships, sexuality and sex life at school, and talking about these topics with their parents and friends. Data on drug use, self-estimated health and mental health are collected in the background.
The survey will be organised among students in grades 7–12, and from 2015 among vocational school students in courses 1–4. The survey mainly reflects data on young people aged 14–18. The sample for this study does not represent young people studying in schools or classes with special educational needs, evening and distance learning and international schools (where the mother tongue of the students is not Estonian or Russian). The survey also does not cover young people who have dropped out of school and those who did not continue their studies after completing primary school or went to study abroad.
The data is collected by means of a pre-coded questionnaire during visits to schools. In the past, paper questionnaires were in use; as of 2021, electronic questionnaires have been used. The electronic questionnaire can only be answered in electronic devices with a small screen: on a smartphone, or on the tablet.
The tables provide weighted data and more details on weighting are included in the study reports.
The mental health assessment was based on the instrument of Mental Health Inventory MHI-5 (Berwick DM, Murphy JM, Goldman PA, Ware Jr JE, Barsky AJ, Weinstein MC. Performance of a five-item mental health screening test. Med Care 1991; 29 (2): 169–176). The score calculated on the basis of the five questions is converted into a 100-point scale, and a cutpoint of 52 has been used when dichotomising of this scale. The same cutpoint was used in the adult sexual behaviour study. If the MHI-5 score is 52 or lower, it reflects the possible occurrence of mental health problems.
Knowledge related to HIV transmission routes gained by an indicator (Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting. Geneva, Switzerland: UNAIDS, 2016. https://aidsreportingtool.unaids.org/static/docs/GARPR_Guidelines_2016_EN.pdf) consisting of four questions:
The questions could be answered as follows: 1 – Yes, 2 – No, 3 – I don’t know. The correct answer to all questions is yes. The indicator represents the proportion of young people who were able to answer all four questions correctly.
2003: Lohmus L, Trummal A, Harro M. HIV/AIDS-i temaatikaga seotud teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine Eesti noorte hulgas. Uurimusraport 2003. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2003. Survey report (in Estonian)
2005: Lohmus L, Trummal A. HIV/AIDS-i temaatikaga seotud teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine Eesti noorte hulgas. Uurimusraport 2005. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2005. Survey report (in Estonian)
2007: Lohmus L, Trummal A. HIV-i temaatikaga seotud teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine Eesti noorte hulgas. Uurimusraport 2007. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2007. Survey report (in Estonian)
2010: Trummal, A, Murd, M, Gluškova, N. HIV-i temaatikaga seotud teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine Eesti noorte hulgas. Uuringuraport 2010. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2011. Survey report (in Estonian)
2015: Lohmus L, Rüütel K, Lemsalu L. HIV/AIDS-i temaatikaga seotud teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine Eesti noorte hulgas. Uuringuraport 2015. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2016. Survey report (in Estonian)
2021: Lohmus L, Tamson M, Pertel T, Abel-Ollo K, Rüütel K. Eesti noorte seksuaaltervis: teadmised, hoiakud ja käitumine. 2021. aasta uuringu aruanne. Tallinn: Tervise Arengu Instituut, 2023. Survey report (in Estonian)
Additonal information about the Sexual Health Survey of Estonian Youth can be found in National Institute for Health Development website (in Estonian)
Liilia Lohmus
National Institute for Health Development
E-post: liilia.lohmus[at]tai.ee
Updated: 28.06.2024