Sexually transmitted diseases (FOI)

​​​​​Request

Regarding sexually transmitted diseases and infestions [sic] (STDs/STIs) in Jersey, from the first recorded data to the most recent (figures included in tables or graph where possible and percentages):

A

How many people are using the STI clinic in the most recent years in comparison to recorded data from over the years?

B

Which STI/STDs are most common in the island in the most recent year?

C

Which three STI/STDs have been the most common over the years?

D

Comparison of positive STI/STD results in the most recent years between age groups,

E

Comparison of positive STI/STD results in the most recent years between genders,

F

Comparison of positive STI/STD results in the most recent years between socioeconomic background,

G

Comparison of positive STI/STD results in the most recent years between nationality,

H

Comparison of positive STI/STD results over the years between age groups,

I

Comparison of positive STI/STD results over the years between genders,

J

Comparison of positive STI/STD results over the years between socioeconomic background,

K

Comparison of positive STI/STD results over the years between nationality,

L

Current ways people in Jersey can be tested for STI/STDs,

M

How many people test positive for STI/STDs in Jersey?

N

How many people are being tested for STI/STDs in Jersey?

O

On average, how much does the STI/STD clinic cost to run each year?

P

Has the government looked into the possibility of home testing kits in the past?

Q

Do STI/STDs peak in certain seasons in the years?

R

Are STI/STDs rates rising or falling in Jersey?

S

Is sexual education more common in schools now compared to earlier years?

Response

A to C

Annual figures for the period 2013 to 2021 have been provided in previous Freedom of Information responses, published to www.gov.je​:

gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=2454​

gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=6060​

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Figures for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test positive cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 2022 through to end of October 2024 have been provided in a Freedom of Information response of November 2024, available on www.gov.je​:

gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=7942

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Figures for positive cases of chlamydia for 2022 and 2023, and from January 2024 to November 2024, are detailed in Table 1. Data is provided for cases diagnosed through the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic, and results for Jersey as a whole (as per hospital laboratory testing records):

Table 1.PDF​

Data for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are reported below. Owing to the limitations of records held, the need for clinician review of tests in the context of patient history (to identify whether positive tests represent a new / recurrent diagnosis, or ongoing infection), and the time allowed for Freedom of Information responses, figures are provided for the last 12-months only.

12-month data

Herpes: 76 cases; 28 cases with a first reported infection, and 48 cases of recurrent herpes

Syphilis: 15 cases

Warts: 40 cases with a first reported infection *

* Owing to variations in treatment plans, numerous attendances may be required, and it is not possible to report cases of recurrent warts without manual review of individual records.

Completing the data analysis on STI incidence since January 2022 has utilised the full time allocation allowed for Freedom of Information responses. Providing data on STI incidence for the period preceding 2013 would require significant further manual review and interrogation of records and datasets, which would exceed the timescales prescribed in the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014. Therefore, Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Whilst records are held for prior years, as noted in a Freedom of Information response of January 2017 (gov.je/government/freedomofinformation/pages/foi.aspx?ReportID=1197​), the Genito-Urinary Medicine service records for that time are paper-based.

D and E

As detailed in response to questions A to C, completing data analysis for STI incidence has utilised the full time allocation allowed for Freedom of Information responses. Providing the demographic data on STI incidence by age and gender would require significant further review and interrogation of records and datasets, which would exceed the timescales prescribed in the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014. Therefore, Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

F and G

Whilst information in respect of nationality and socioeconomic background may be available in individual case records, such detail is not available to report against the STI test dataset. A Scheduled Public Authority is not required to create or manipulate data for the purposes of responding to Freedom of Information requests. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

H and I

See response to Questions D and E

J and K

See response to Questions F and G.

L

Information on testing is available at the following link:

GUM (sexual health) clinic​

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

M

See response to Questions B and C (covered in ‘A to C’), and in the previous responses referenced and linked above.

N

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) testing is standardly performed in STI screening. Data on CT testing has been reported and used as surrogate for STI screen numbers. Table 2 details the figures for CT testing for 2022 and 2023, and from January 2024 to November 2024. Data are provided for tests performed through the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic, and across Jersey as a whole (as per hospital laboratory testing records):

Table 2.pdf​

O

Finance records are not held in such a way that costs for the GUM clinic can be isolated from those of the Integrated Sexual Health service, which provides Contraception and Cervical Screening clinics at Le Bas Centre, and Blood-Borne Virus clinics. Staff work across all areas, and costs for equipment and consumables are not allocated to distinct services. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Forecast spend for 2024 across the whole Integrated Sexual Health service is £1,804,414.

P

No business case for home-testing has been submitted for consideration.

Q

As noted, completing data analysis for the test data provided in this response has utilised the full time allocation allowed for Freedom of Information responses. The resource required to perform further analysis to identify any trends in seasonal incidence would exceed the timescales prescribed in the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014. Therefore, Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

R

See the annual data provided in response to Questions B and C (covered in ‘A to C’), and in the previous responses referenced and linked above.

S

Information is not held to satisfy the question posed. Freedom of Information is a mechanism to enable access to information held in recorded form by a Scheduled Public Authority, rather than to pose questions requiring comment. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Information on the school curriculum observed in Jersey is available at:

Understanding the curriculum (gov.je)

ID Jersey Curriculum PSHE including Citizenship 20160531 PH.pdf (gov.je)

Articles applied​​

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 16 - A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations. 

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.​