PROVISION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH-CARE OF ADOLESCENTS IN GENITOURINARY MEDICINE CLINICS IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM

Objective: To investigate the provision for sexual health care of adol escents in genitourinary medicine clinics in the United Kingdom. Metho ds: A questionnaire was sent to all 170 consultants in charge of genit ourinary medicine clinics in the United Kingdom. Results: Completed qu estionnaires were received from 119 consultants in charge of clinics. Eleven per cent of attenders during April-June 1995 were aged under 20 years. Attenders aged under 16 years and from 16-19 years old were fo und to have significantly higher rates of gonorrhoea than those aged o ver 19. The same applied to male attenders with chlamydia. Female atte nders aged 16-19 had significantly higher rates of anogenital warts th an those aged over 19. Thirty six per cent of female cases of gonorrho ea occurred under the age of 20 years. In most clinics (74%) it was po licy for a new clinic attender aged under 16 years to see a health adv iser. Most clinics (79%) provided emergency contraception, but few (14 %) had a full contraception service. Most clinics participated in STD/ HIV/sexual health education in the local community, especially in scho ols (74%) and colleges (70%). Seventy five per cent of health authorit ies had medical services designated for young people, but only 18% had such services which offered screening for STDs. Only 4% of genitourin ary medicine clinics held sessions which were designated for young peo ple (upper age limit 21 years or less). Conclusions: Genitourinary med icine clinics in the United Kingdom provide a range of services, inclu ding extensive education in the community, to promote sexual health am ong adolescents. A critical evaluation of the quality of health educat ion activity by genitourinary medicine clinics would be of interest.