European-wide survey of sexual health and practices of men asking men who have sex with men to complete the latest version of survey

Published: January 11, 2018

A European-wide survey of sexual health and practices of men is urgently asking men who have sex with men to complete the latest version of their survey. With a particular focus on those who do not identify as gay or bisexual.

The previous version of the EMIS survey from 2010 found that over 9% of respondents in Ireland indicated that they had had sexual contact with other men, but did not consider themselves gay or bisexual. Given this finding was higher in other parts of Europe, it is felt that this figure under-represents reality and greater access to this cohort would see this figure rise. This makes this group even more essential to reach and even more important to accurately research in this round of the EMIS Survey.

The Gay Health Network (GHN) and HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) are calling for more men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Ireland to complete the European internet sex survey (EMIS) at www.emis2017.eu.

This research comes at a critical time in men’s sexual health and reflects the community interest in promoting awareness especially in regional and non-urban settings. The EMIS 2010 Ireland findings were a key input in the joint HSE and Gay Health Network (GHN) first National Sexual Health and HIV awareness programme for MSM (www.man2man.ie) which is now one of the most important sexual health tools for MSM in Ireland.

This, as with the MISI research in 2015 has also contributed to the planning, promotion and increased access to HIV and STI testing, free condoms and to the greater understanding of the psychological needs of men living with HIV. Importantly it also highlighted HIV related stigma and homophobic related attacks on MSM.

The EMIS 2017 survey is due to end on January 31st, 2018 and the LGBT community and sexual health services are promoting participation around Ireland encouraging MSM to join tens-of-thousands across Europe who have completed it so far.