Sexual Health Attendance and Adverse Childhood Experiences study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploratory study to determine if adverse childhood experiences impact risk-taking behaviours and self-reported health outcomes of patients accessing sexual health services in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
IRAS ID
178147
Contact name
Lorraine Forster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow&Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 1 days
Research summary
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful experiences that occur in childhood that may have a negative impact later in life. These include: abuse (sexual, physical and verbal); witnessing intimate partner violence; living with adults with mental health issues; living with adults with drugs and alcohol problems; and living with adults who have been in prison.
ACEs have been shown to have an impact on sexual health risk-taking behaviours and poor sexual health outcomes in America and Australia. These studies have shown and observed an association between ACEs and adolescent pregnancy, and a strong relationship between childhood abuse and HIV-related risk behaviour.
A recent study investigating ACEs and health harming behaviours (HHBs) in England found a strong relationship between ACEs and HHBs that was independent of deprivation, and found that having 3 or more ACEs accounted for approximately 30% of individuals reporting early sexual debut and unintended teenage pregnancy.
This illustrates a link between ACEs and poor sexual health outcomes, yet no such data exists for Scotland. Therefore, research is required to investigate if ACEs lead to increased risk-taking health behaviours with regards to sexual health in Scotland. Addressing this may have an impact on the lives and outcomes of clients through awareness and intervention leading to sexual health improvement.
The aims of this study are to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of ACEs in clients accessing sexual health services in NHS Greater Glasgow&Clyde (GGC); to investigate what kinds of ACEs those attending sexual health services in NHS GGC have experienced; and to investigate any relationship between types and occurrences of ACEs and sexual risk-taking behaviours and poorer sexual health outcomes.
This information will facilitate possible options for interventions to reduce risk-taking behaviours and improve sexual health of the NHS GGC population.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0106
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion