SHout Loud survey: the results are in!

Submitted 10 February 2010

Between September and November 2009, we ran a survey on the SHout Loud site, to find out how much people knew about people who make decisions in their community, and whether they felt able to influence these decisions.  We had over 200 responses to the survey.  Some of the results were encouraging – for example, over half the people who took part said they understood how sexual health decisions were made locally, knew who to contact about sexual health services at their PCT, and many people felt confident in expressing their views about sexual health services to their MPs and local councillors. 

However, the majority of respondents felt that their PCT and local council did not involve them in making these plans, and most people who took the survey did not know what a LINK or the OSC did.  SHout Loud exists to facilitate better communication between the public and people who make decisions, helping people to get involved in decisions about sexual health, contraception and HIV services in their area.   We will also be producing a series of downloadable guides, helping people to understand how decisions are made locally and how things like LINKs can help.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey.  Together, we can help improve sexual health in your community.