Sexual Health in the Netherlands: Main Results of a Population Survey Among Dutch Adults

ABSTRACT

In 2006, the Rutgers Nisso Groep conducted an extensive population survey to assess the epidemiology of sexual health in the Netherlands. The sample consists of a random selection of the adult population living in the Netherlands (N= 4147) who were approached through internet panels. The study assesses the prevalence of a broad range of sexual health issues, including sexual and relational satisfaction, experience of sexuality, sexual identity, paraphilia, excessive desire, sexual dysfunctions, contraception, abortion, infertility, testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, condom use, and sexual violence. The data show, among other findings, that a small half of the adult Dutch population was basically without sexual health-related problems or stress during the year preceding the study. The other half experienced problems to a varying extent in one or more areas. Overall, 24% of the women and 19% of the men have experienced a need for professional sexual health care during the previous year. For women and men alike, relational problems are the most common complaint. About half of those in need of one or another form of sexual health care actually received it. Young people and people with an ethnic minority background show an elevated need for sexual health care.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual and reproductive health epidemiology
• commercial sex
• excessive desire
• sexual dysfunction
• sexual violence

Notes

¹The minimum age of 19 years ensures that adolescents are excluded from the sample, because research on the sexuality of adolescents demands a different methodology. For data on this age group readers can refer to Sex under 25 (de Graaf, Meijer, Poelman & Vanwesenbeeck, 2005).

² http://www.euroclix.com

³ http://www.surveysampling.com

⁴CBS Data Bank, http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb (retrieved September 2009).

⁵Subsample size: Western, N= 3,882; Turkish/Moroccan, N= 105; Surinamese/Dutch Antilles, N= 101; others, N= 83

⁶Subsample size: heterosexuals, N= 3,889; homosexuals, N= 108; bisexuals, N= 134 (before supplementary recruiting)

⁷ http://www.monitorgezondheid.nl/volksindicatoren.aspx

⁸1991: N(Muslims) < 1%, N(at least one parent born outside the Netherlands) = 6%. 2006: N(Muslims) = 1.5%, N(ethnic minority background) = 7%.

⁹A couple that does not share a household.

¹⁰These figures only bear reference to STI/HIV testing that was actively sought by respondents and does not include tests that were part of general check-up procedures.