Statistical Publication Notice

26 February 2008

Key Clinical Indicators for Sexual Health: Data for Phase One Population Based Indicators 2006

 

INTRODUCTION

“Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health” highlighted the need to monitor sexual health service development both nationally and at an NHS board level. A set of Key Clinical Indicators (KCIs) has been developed for this purpose.

This document reports on the chlamydia, sterilisation and termination of pregnancy indicators with data from calendar year 2006.

KEY POINTS

Chlamydia
Although the majority of samples testing positive (70%) were from persons aged less than 25, less than half of all testing (45%) was performed on persons belonging to this most vulnerable age group.

Sterilisation:
Female Sterilisation - 18 women per 10,000 (aged 15 – 44) had a sterilisation procedure in 2006, compared to 20 in 2005.
Vasectomy - A total of 43 per 10,000 men (aged 15 -59) in Scotland had a vasectomy in 2006 which is a small increase compared with 2005 data.  There has been an increase in the numbers of vasectomies performed inhospital compared with 2005 (3,174 vs. 3,350) and a rise in the total numbers of vasectomies performed (6,457 vs. 6,611).

It should be noted that it is not currently possible to quality assure the vasectomy data provided by NHS boards to the same extent as the ISD national data returns.

Termination of Pregnancy
The proportion of early terminations has been relatively stable since 2000, with 67.3% of all terminations performed at less than 10 weeks in 2006. This has increased from 66.5% in 2005.

DETAILED FINDINGS

“Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health” highlighted the need to monitor sexual health service development both nationally and at an NHS board level. A set of Key Clinical Indicators (KCIs) has been developed for this purpose.

This document reports on the chlamydia, sterilisation and termination of pregnancy indicators with data from calendar year 2006.

The three indicators reported upon in this publication, in addition to the indicators on HIV therapy, hepatitis B vaccination for MSM and on long acting reversible methods of contraception (LARC) represent the ‘Population Based Indicators’.

The Key Clinical Indicators for sexual health were developed by the Action 12 subgroup on behalf of the National Sexual Health Advisory Committee (NSHAC).

The Key Clinical Indicators are part of the wider quality framework for sexual health. The indicators help to inform the development of the Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Sexual Health Service Standards and also the National Sexual Health System (NaSH) with its associated datasets, developed by the National Clinical Dataset Development Programme (NCDDP).

Chlamydia
The majority (77%) of testing was performed on women.
Although the majority of samples testing positive (70%) were from persons aged less than 25, less than half of all testing (45%) was performed on persons belonging to this age group.

Male and female sterilisation
18 women per 10,000 (aged 15 - 44) had a sterilisation procedure in 2006, compared to 20 in 2005.
41% women having the procedure waited over three months.
Eight boards have reduced their waiting times since 2005.

A total of 43 per 10,000 men (aged 15 – 59) in Scotland had a vasectomy in 2006.
2006 data shows a slight increase since 2005 in the numbers of vasectomies performed as an inhospital procedure (SMR01 data) (3,174 vs. 3,350) and a rise in the total numbers (6,457 vs. 6,611)

Termination of Pregnancy
The proportion of early terminations has been relatively stable since 2000, with 67.3% of all terminations performed at less than 10 weeks in 2006. This has increased from 66.5% in 2005.

The rate of terminations in most deprived (SIMD 5) areas was almost double that of areas of low deprivation (SIMD 1) at 16.6 and 8.8 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The key clinical indicators for sexual health highlight priority areas in sexual health services and provide a benchmark against which NHS boards can measure some aspects of their performance and allow them to use the data for performance monitoring and comparison with others - leading to improved services and the sharing of best practice.

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MAIN CONTACTS

Felicity Naughton
DASH Project Manager
0131 275 7148
felicity.naughton@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Jim Chalmers
Head of Programme WCHIP
0131 275 6136
jim.chalmers@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

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GLOSSARY

KCI – key clinical indicator
Termination of pregnancy – abortion
SMR - Scottish Morbidity Records
LARC - long acting reversible methods of contraception

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PRE-RELEASE ACCES TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

The Sexual Health policy team at the SG
The National Sexual Health Advisory Committee (NSHAC)
Action 12 subgroup.
Lead Clinicians for Sexual Health (NHS boards)
GUM Lead Clinicians (NHS boards)
The STI Epidemiology Advisory Group (STIEAG)
Directors of Public Health
NHS Board Chief Executives
Executive Directors for Sexual Health

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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION

Last Published:  February 2007
Next Due:  Autumn 2008
Data Available Since:  February 2007

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