Santé publique France is France’s national public health agency. A public institution under the authority of the Minister of Health, formed through the merger of several public institutions and established by Ordinance 2016-246 of April 15, 2016, the agency works to promote public health. As a scientific, expert, and public health safety agency, its missions include:

1. Epidemiological observation and surveillance of the population’s health status;
2. Monitoring health risks threatening the population;
3. Promoting health and reducing health risks;
4. Developing prevention and health education;
5. Preparation for and response to health threats, alerts, and crises;
6. Issuing public health alerts.

The agency is organized into 12 departments—some scientific, some cross-functional, and some providing operational support.

The agency’s strategic priorities and work program, adopted by its Board of Directors, are organized into three areas: strengthening the capacity for anticipation and rapid response to health threats; measuring and assessing the extent of diseases and risk factors to guide their prevention and control; and strengthening the health impact of all public policies, as well as health prevention and promotion.

Office of Prevention and Health Promotion

Background

The “sexual health” program of Santé publique France is part of the “National Sexual
Health Strategy – Agenda 2017–2030 ,” whose overall
objective is to ensure “a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality,
from birth through old age, for the entire population.” The program is
structured around three pillars: 

1. promoting sexual health for everyone, at all ages, through a comprehensive and positive approach;
2. improving knowledge of and access to a range of prevention methods to combat HIV and other STIs; 
3. improving reproductive health. 

These three pillars are addressed through the following three strategic objectives: 

1. generating knowledge and recommendations useful for public policy and
   making them available; 
2. designing, deploying/implementing, and evaluating interventions, and supporting the implementation of policies and plans; 
3. collaborating with and building on relationships with appropriate partners. 

The program prioritizes population-based approaches using research, social marketing, and partnerships targeting: young people, men who have sex with men, and the general adult population (i.e., the general public).

Responsibilities

The Research and Study Officer contributes to the development of action-oriented
knowledge (Axis 1) by designing and analyzing surveys targeting men who
have sex with men (MSM).

Activities

Reporting to the head of the Sexual Health Unit, the Research
and Study Coordinator:

• participate in the design of quantitative studies targeting men who
  have sex with men and other sexual minorities;
• conducts statistical analyses (univariate, multivariate, or principal component
  analyses) of the collected data;
• disseminates the results of their work through the publication of articles in peer-reviewed
  journals;
• ensures the transfer of the knowledge generated to other departments/units
  within the agency and research teams working on sexual minorities (including
  SantéRcom of SESSTIM);
• monitors and critically analyzes the scientific literature relevant to their
  work;
• participates in methodological discussions within the unit and SantéRcom of SESSTIM
  in collaboration with other social science study coordinators at ANRS-MIE;
• participates in the work of the “sexual health” unit, as needed;
• represents Santé publique France in various national and
  international forums.