Audit of under-14s who attend sexual health clinics in Gwent, South Wales, UK: Identifying young people at risk of abuse and exploitation

Abstract

Background: The authors' service has child protection guidance listing locally agreed 'markers' of potential abuse and exploitation to aid identification of vulnerable young people. Objectives: To review whether staff are identifying markers of sexual abuse and exploitation, and to review documentation relating to assessment of Fraser criteria in under-14s (young people) attending sexual health clinics in Gwent, South Wales, UK. Methods: Analysis of case notes of 242 young people who made 598 visits to a sexual health clinic between 1 January and 31 December 2003. Results: A total of 81 references to a marker of potential abuse or exploitation were recorded at 8% of visits and for 11% of young people. For 72 references a marker was present and for nine was absent. There was no reference to a marker being present or absent for any young males or for 81% of females. Increasing attendance was associated with increasing prevalence of recorded markers. All young people with three or more markers identified as present were referred onwards compared with 53% of those with one or two markers present. Referral did not deter future attendance. Reference to Fraser guidance assessment was recorded at 35% of visits or for 64% of young people and fully demonstrated at 7% of visits or for 16% of young people. There was no recorded assessment for 18% of females and 60% of males. Conclusions: The authors' service is not recording sufficient information to help identify young people (particularly males) at risk of abuse or exploitation or to demonstrate the service's compliance with Fraser guidance. ©FFPRHC.