A national exploratory survey of 62 UK sexual health services found 'variable practice around asking, collating data, referral, training and staff supervision' regarding sexual and domestic violence/abuse enquiry.
Key Findings
Results
UK sexual health services demonstrate highly variable practice in enquiring about sexual and domestic violence/abuse among patients.
The study was a snapshot, non-probability, exploratory survey of Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) services across the UK.
62 services responded to the survey.
Variability was observed across multiple dimensions including asking about violence/abuse, collating data, referral pathways, training, and staff supervision.
The study was conducted in partnership between the University of the West of England, BASHH, and their Sexual Violence Specialist Interest Group (SVSIG).
Background
Survivors of sexual violence and abuse commonly pass through sexual health services without being asked about their victimisation.
The paper identifies this as a systemic gap in frontline healthcare practice.
Sexual health services are described as a key point of contact where gender-based violence commonly presents.
Healthcare providers should be able to identify survivors, provide first-line support, refer to specialist services, and link to comprehensive post-assault care.
Methods
The study serves as a benchmarking exercise for sexual and domestic violence/abuse enquiry practice in UK sexual health services.
This was described as 'the first joint study of its kind' combining a university, BASHH, and the SVSIG.
The survey captured comparative practice across GUM services nationally.
The authors describe it as setting 'a bar against which all services can measure and improve current practice on gender-based violence identification.'
The study design was a non-probability, exploratory snapshot survey.
Background
Gender-based violence identification is characterised as a crucial role of sexual health services in reducing inequalities-driven harm from undisclosed trauma.
Domestic and sexual abuse are described as 'a worldwide public health and civil rights issue.'
The paper frames undisclosed trauma as a driver of health inequalities.
Sexual health services are positioned as having 'a central role to play in prevention, particularly in the identification of sexual and domestic violence/abuse.'
The study links improved enquiry practice to broader harm reduction goals.
Results
Referral practices and staff training related to sexual and domestic violence/abuse varied considerably across the 62 surveyed UK sexual health services.
Variation was documented in referral systems to specialist services.
Training provision for staff on violence/abuse enquiry was inconsistent across services.
Staff supervision practices related to violence/abuse enquiry also differed between services.
Data collation practices regarding violence/abuse disclosures were similarly variable.
What This Means
This research surveyed 62 sexual health clinics (known as GUM services) across the UK to understand how consistently they ask patients about experiences of sexual and domestic violence or abuse. The study, a collaboration between the University of the West of England, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), and their Sexual Violence Specialist Interest Group, found that practice varied widely from clinic to clinic — not just in whether staff asked patients about violence, but also in how data was recorded, how patients were referred to specialist support, and whether staff received relevant training or supervision.
The findings highlight a significant gap in frontline healthcare: many survivors of sexual violence pass through sexual health services — places where such abuse frequently comes to light — without ever being asked about it. This matters because sexual health clinics are often one of the few points of contact where survivors might receive help, and without a consistent approach to asking, many people experiencing abuse may go unsupported and unreferred.
This research suggests that UK sexual health services need clearer and more consistent standards for identifying and responding to gender-based violence. The authors present their findings as a national benchmark — a baseline picture of current practice that individual services can use to evaluate themselves and work toward improvement. The study frames better identification of abuse within sexual health settings as an important way to reduce health inequalities caused by undisclosed trauma.
Meyrick J, Bennett A, McGovern K, Kite C. (2024). Sexual and domestic violence enquiry: A national exploratory survey of asking and telling in sexual health services in the UK.. International journal of STD & AIDS. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564624241286926