What has the impact of Natsal been?
Natsal has provided evidence underpinning public health policy, practice and research for over 25 years.
Natsal has developed to become internationally-renowned in the population measurement of the social, behavioural and biological aspects of sexual health.
As serial probability surveys, Natsal is able to provide a comprehensive picture of the sexual health of the nation and show how this has changed over time and across generations. Natsal has captured striking changes in people born over much of the 20th Century – for example, the decline in age at first sex.
Natsal provides the evidence-base for major sexual health interventions and monitoring their impact, including:
- The National Chlamydia Screening Programme
- National Sexual Health & HIV strategies
- Enhanced HIV testing
- HPV vaccination programme
- The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (2000-2010)
- Sex and relationship education in schools (PSHE education)
- Delivery of sexual health services
Why do we need Natsal-4?
Since Natsal-3 there have been significant societal, individual-level and technological changes, along with shifts in public health priorities and service delivery, which influence sexual attitudes, lifestyles and health outcomes.
As a result of this, Natsal-4 will provide updated data on sexual lifestyles in the context of today’s society. Read more information about Natsal-4 here.