Sexual health needs of the under-16s attending an STI clinic: what are they and are they being addressed?

Abstract

A retrospective analysis was performed on case notes of patients aged less than 16 years who attended a Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine as a new case in 1998. Seventy-four case notes were reviewed. There was a high rate of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (gonorrhoea six [8%], chlamydia 23 [31%], genital warts nine [12%], trichomonas seven [10%]) and low condom (30, 41%) and other contraceptive use (21 females [35%], six males [60%]). Many female attendees were victims of current or previous sexual abuse (eight, 8%) and/or exploitation, and for a further eight (8%) abuse/exploitation was considered possible; little reference was made to this in the notes. Thirty-three (45%) attendees were seen by junior members of staff, and only 49 (60%) were seen by a health adviser (42 females, seven males [60%]). Young attendees have a high STI rate, low contraceptive use and a significant minority are victims of abuse. Genitourinary medicine clinics need to provide a full sexual health service to this vulnerable group and have guidelines in place to assess for sexual abuse. Recommendations on how to achieve this are given.