To advance and promote the discipline and professional practice of epidemiology in Ontario public health units
Please click here to visit our new website











 

 

 

6A Number of Sexual Partners
Description | Specific Indicators | Corresponding Mandatory Objectives | Corresponding National Indicators | Data Sources |  Alternative Data Sources | ICD Codes | Analysis Check List | Method of Calculation |  Basic Categories | Indicator Comments | Cross-References to Other Sections | References  


Description
Proportion of population aged 15-59 years according to the number of sexual partners they reported having in the past 12 months. bsp;


Specific Indicators
  • Number of sexual partners


Corresponding Mandatory Objectives

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/pub/pubhealth/manprog/manprog.html

Related Objectives:

  • To reduce the incidence rate of gonorrhea to 15 per 100,000 population by the year 2005.
  • To reduce the incidence rate of genital chlamydia to 500 per 100,000 women ages 15-24 years by the year 2005.
  • To maintain the incidence rate of primary and secondary syphilis at less than one per 100,000 population by the year 2005.
  • To maintain the incidence of congenitally acquired syphilis at zero.
  • To reduce the number of newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections to less than 800 per year by the year 2005.
  • To reduce the incidence of perinatal HIV infection.
  
Corresponding National Indicators
  • None

  
Data Sources (see Resources: Data Sources)
 
Numerator & Denominator: 1996/97 Ontario Health Survey (OHS)
Original source: Statistics Canada
Distributed by:
1. Health Planning Branch, Ontario MOHLTC
2. Statistics Canada
Suggested citation (see Data Citation Notes):
1. Ontario Health Survey 1996/97, Statistics Canada, Share File, Health Planning Branch, Ontario MOHLTC
2. Ontario Health Survey 1996/97, Statistics Canada, Public Use Microdata File, Statistics Canada
 
Numerator & Denominator: Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)
Original source: Statistics Canada
Distributed by:
1. Health Planning Branch, Ontario MOHLTC
2. Statistics Canada
Suggested citation (see Data Citation Notes):
1. Canadian Community Health Survey [year], Statistics Canada, Share File, Health Planning Branch, Ontario MOHLTC
2. Canadian Community Health Survey [year], Statistics Canada, Public Use Microdata File, Statistics Canada

 
Survey Questions
Ontario Health Survey 1996/97 Question:
Var. SHS6_4) “With how many different partners (did you have sexual intercourse in the past 12 months?) 1) 1, 2) 2, 3) 3, 4) 4+”

Canadian Community Health Survey 2000/01 Question:
Var. SB_Q4 “With how many different partners (did you have sexual intercourse in the past 12 months?) 1) 1, 2) 2, 3) 3, 4) 4 +”.
  
 
Analysis Check List

  • When you run a frequency on the variable SHS6_4 in the 1996/97 OHS, the NOT APPLICABLE category will represent those who have had no sexual intercourse in the past 12 months. This includes those who have had sexual intercourse only prior to the past 12 months and those who have never had sexual intercourse.
  • Check for high non-response and analyze appropriately.
  • Before releasing and/or publishing these data, users should first determine the number of sampled respondents who contributed to the calculation of the estimate. If this unweighted number is less than 30, the weighted estimate should not be released regardless of the estimate’s coefficient of variation (C.V.). For unweighted estimates of 30 or more, users should determine the C.V. of the rounded weighted estimate and follow the guidelines below:
    • Acceptable (C.V. of 0.0 - 16.5) Weighted estimates can be considered for general unrestricted release. Requires no special notation.
    • Marginal (C.V. of 16.6 - 33.3) Weighted estimates can be considered for general unrestricted release but should be accompanied by a warning cautioning of high sampling variability.
    • Unacceptable (C.V. greater than 33.3) Statistics Canada recommends not releasing estimates of unacceptable quality. However, if the user chooses to do so then estimates should be flagged and the following warning should accompany the estimates: “The user is advised that . . .(specify the data) . . . do not meet Statistics Canada’s quality standards for this statistical program. Conclusions based on these data will be unreliable and most likely invalid”. These data and any consequent findings should not be published. If the user chooses to publish these data or findings, then this disclaimer must be published with the data.


Method of Calculation
 

Weighted number aged 15-59 by number of sexual partners in past year

    x 100

Weighted total number aged 15-59 years


 
Basic Categories

  • Sex: male, female.
  • Geographic areas for: CCHS – all 37 Public Health Units and16 District Health Councils in Ontario; 1996/97 OHS – 23 health areas.
  • Age groups: 15-24, 25-44, 45-59
  • Response groups: 1) no partners 2) 1 partner 3) 2 or more partners

  
Indicator Comments

  • Self-reporting on such sensitive questions may be subject to social desirability bias or high non-response and result in an underestimate or overestimate of the true prevalence in the population, depending on the respondent’s gender. Similarly, married people may not admit sexual relations with other partners.
  • All sexual health questions in the 1996/97 OHS and 2000 CCHS were asked to those aged 15-59 years responding by non-proxy only.
  • The 1990 OHS asked similar questions “In the past year have you had a sexual partner?” and “In the past year, how many sexual partners did you have?” Sexual health questions were asked of those aged 16 and older. Comparisons should be made with caution.


Cross-References to Other Sections


References

  1. Public Health Research, Education and Development Program (PHRED). Report on the Health Status of the Residents of Ontario. Ontario: PHRED, February 2000.
  2. Dryburgh H. Teenage pregnancy. Health Reports 2000;12(1):9-19.


Date of Last Revision: April 27, 2004.

Treasurer/Secretary | Admin | Members Login

BrickHost