Page last updated: 24-NOV-2009

Sexual Health

Statistical Publication Notice

24 November 2009

Key Clinical Indicators for Sexual Health: ‘Population Based’ KCIs: Chlamydia data for 2008.

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 indicator with data from calendar year 2008. The indicators around termination of pregnancy, long acting reversible contraception and sterilisation data for 2008 were published in October 2009.

KEY POINTS

Testing
 
Between 2007 and 2008:
  • An increase of total tests was observed in both men (18%) and women (13%) aged 15-49.
  • In those aged 15-24, the level of testing increased by 21% for men and by 16% for women.
  • In those aged 25-49, the level of testing increased by 15% for men and 11% for women.
In 2008:
  • Tests taken by men aged 15-24 accounted for 46.4% of all the tests performed in men aged 15-49.
  • Tests taken by women aged 15-24 accounted for 48.4% of all the tests performed in women aged 15-49.
Results
 
Three times as many positive diagnoses were made in women undergoing testing who were aged less than 25 than in older women.

INTERPRETATION

The data are presented by NHS board area of testing and not by NHS board of residence of those undergoing chlamydia testing. Although it is accepted that people do cross NHS board boundaries to access services, it is not possible using the current aggregated data collection system to derive data by NHS board of residence from the laboratory testing data. In addition, this is further highlighted with regard to the data for Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Highland NHS Boards; some chlamydia testing of Highland NHS Board residents is performed in the laboratories within the Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board area and thus, will be recorded within the Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board data.

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 indicator with data from calendar year 2008.

The indicators around termination of pregnancy, long acting reversible contraception (LARC) and sterilisation data for 2008 were published in October 2009.

These indicators, in addition to that on HIV therapy and Hepatitis B, represent the ‘Population Based Indicators’.

The KCIs for sexual health were developed on behalf of the National Sexual Health Advisory Committee (NSHAC).

The KCIs are part of the wider quality framework for sexual health. The indicators helped to inform the development of the Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Sexual Health Service Standards and also the National Sexual Health System (NaSH).

Chlamydia:
Although sexually active individuals aged less than 25 are at greatest risk of chlamydia infection and the majority (72%) of positive tests were noted in this age group, less than half (47%) of all chlamydia testing in Scotland during 2008 was performed on those aged less than 25.

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MAIN CONTACTS:

Zareena Rafiq
DASH Project Manager
0131 275 7164
Zareena.rafiq@nhs.net

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GLOSSARY:

KCI – Key Clinical Indicator

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS:

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
ScotPHN
Lead Clinicians for Sexual Health
Health Improvement Programme Manager, NHS Health Scotland
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
 
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: September 2008
Next Due: September 2010
Data Available Since: Data avaliable for 2005 and onwards

 


Main contact: Email Zareena Rafiq