Sexual health clinics in England fail to meet HIV Testing targets
Despite their mandate set out to offer HIV testing to all attendees, sexual health clinics are still failing to offer the test to around 10% of people. The findings are reported following analysis into Public Health England data that was recently published in the International Journal of STD & AIDS.
Key findings
Figures outline that those aged in their late twenties are most likely to be offered testing, whilst older age groups notice a drop. Men who have sex with men are most likely to be offered the test, whilst heterosexual women are the least likely.
The figures, which were first published in the industry journal, have since been crunched by Aidsmap. They were taken from 2014 records, when 1.4 million people attended sexual health clinics in England. Findings include: –
15-49 year age group
- 92% of men who have sex with men offered testing
- 92% of heterosexual men offered testing
- 85% of heterosexual women offered testing
Over 50s
- 88% of men who have sex with men offered testing
- 85% of heterosexual men offered testing
- 78% of heterosexual women offered testing
Other findings
- Data suggests that despite older female patients been offered tests less frequently, they were in fact more likely to accept the test than their younger counterparts
- The gap that exists between older people and younger people was getting smaller in comparison to figures from 2009.
Simple discreet testing
Your Sexual Health can provide simple and convenient HIV tests to anyone who needs them on our private STI testing service. We can carry out tests at over 60 clinic locations across the UK or using out home visit or postal testing service. Find out more by visiting our testing page or why not read more about HIV on our special HIV advice page.
