Screening for sexually transmitted infections in children and adolescents in the United Kingdom: British co-Operative Clinical Group

Our objectives were (1) to assess the number of young people aged under 16 years attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) departments in the UK in 1998; (2) to identify clinical activity and policy; (3) to determine the knowled ge and training needs of healthcare professionals within GUM providing care for this client group. In July 1999 a questionnaire was circulated via the 18 regional British Co- operative Clinical Group (BCCG) representatives to the consultants in charg e of all 197 main GUM departments in the UK. One hundred and sixty out of 1 97 (81%) completed questionnaires were returned and analysed. The reported number of under-16-year-olds attending in 1998 varied considerably between clinics; for females ranging from 0 to 256 and for males between 0 and 50, with a male to female ratio of 1:4.4. The majority of responding clinics, 1 39/160 (87%) had been involved in the screening of abused children/adolesce nts for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Most clinics were prepared to screen for STI (86%), HIV test (79%) and assess contraceptive needs (50% ) in this age group. Staff involved in care included health advisers (74), nurses (59), and doctors (138) in the responding clinics. Only 31/160 clini cs (19%) had a written policy for the management of children/ adolescents a ttending their clinic. The majority of respondents were aware of their chil d protection policy [122/ 154 (79%)] and designated child sexual abuse doct or, [125/157 (80%)] in their district. When questioned on previous and curr ent training needs, 134/160 (84%) respondents identified their need for fur ther training in the area of adolescent sexual health and 124/160 (78%) in child sex abuse. The publication Physical Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children (1), was known to 112/160 (70%) respondents, of whom 58/112 (52%) who answe red this question had read the publication. Genitourinary physicians in the UK are aware of the increasing number of children and adolescents accessin g their services, and recognize the need to identify those in abusive situa tions. Written policies dealing with children and adolescents in GUM clinic s in the UK are lacking. This needs to be rectified urgently. This survey i dentifies that further training in the field of child sexual abuse and adol escent sexual health would be welcomed by the respondents.