Basingstoke Contraceptive and Sexual Health
(CASH) Service
CASH Aims & Objectives
 To modernise sexual health and HIV services in light of the growing prevalence of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV1
 To promote the location of local sexual health services
 To offer sex education, health promotion and contraception to enable people to improve
their health
 To reduce the teenage conception rate in young women aged 15-17
Health promotion is said to only be successful if it advocates the best interests of individuals,
and society as a whole 2
Basingstoke CASH Service uses a ‘high-risk’ approach, prioritising people at particular risk in
the community, rather than a whole-population approach 2
“In England, and in other developed countries, the burden of sexual
illness is borne, in particular, by the most vulnerable in society.” 3
Contraceptive
advice
Genito-urinary
medicine
advice
Clinics in five
colleges
during term
time
Free
condoms for
all young
people
An accessible
sexual health
service
CASH
provides…4
With thanks to the staff at Basingstoke CASH clinic.
Evidence of need
 National Strategy for Sexual Health
& HIV1 aims:
• reducing the transmission of HIV and
STIs
• reducing the prevalence of undiagnosed
HIV and STIs
• reducing unintended pregnancy rates
• improving health and social care for
people living with HIV
• reducing the stigma associated with HIV
and STIs
 The need to develop the evidence base
 DOH’s Public Service Agreement5 ‘to
reduce the under-18 conception rate by
50 per cent by 2010 as part of a broader
strategy to improve sexual health’
Chlamydia
screening for
under 25s
Does the service work?
Bringing sexual health services
into the Internet era
Whilst local media6 reported a nationwide decrease in
teenage pregnancies in 2010, there was actually a 7.8%
increase in the South East area compared to the previous year7
CASH service staff identify several barriers to providing
an effective service to young people:
Providing services at times that are accessible
to young adults of school/college age8
Lack of signposting – the CASH service cannot be
seen to publicly ‘promote’ sex to young people
The service does not have a budget
for targeted advertising in the local area
49% of young people in the UK reported
that they don’t know where their local
sexual health clinic is9
Every secondary school in North East Hants is offered a free
education and advice session for Year 11 pupils, however the
uptake rate is currently approximately 10%
A Cochrane review of sexual health promotion concluded that
computer based interventions:
 have a moderate effect in improving people's knowledge
about sexual health in comparison to ‘usual practice' leaflet
giving
 have a small effect on safer-sex intentions
 have an effect on sexual behaviour (such as condom use for
sexual intercourse)
 appeared better than face-to-face interventions at improving
sexual health knowledge
However, no studies measured potential harm of computer
based interventions - more research is required to establish
whether they have an effect on outcomes such as STIs and
pregnancy and to assess whether they are cost-effective 11
Improved education in schools is vital to improve sexual
health amongst young people10
CASH is now under the umbrella of Solent NHS
Trust, moving towards a service offered under
“one roof” in place of the previous referral service
1 Department of Health (2001) Better prevention, better services, better sexual health – the national strategy for sexual health and HIV. London: The Stationery Office.
2 Scriven, A. (2010) Promoting health, a practical guide. 6th Edition. London: Elsevier.
3 Lloyd, C., Handsley, S., Douglas, J., Earle, S. and Spurr, S. (2007) Policy and practice in promoting public health. Sage: London.
4 www.hampshirecash.org.uk
5 Department of Health (2009) Moving forward: progress and priorities - working together for high quality sexual health: Government response to the Independent Advisory Group's review of the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy. London: The Stationery Office.
6 Press Association (2012) Teenage pregnancy rate drops 7.3%. Basingstoke Gazette. Available at: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/uk_national_news/9558263.Teenage_pregnancy_rate_drops_7_3_/. (Accessed: 12 June 2012)
7 Office for National Statistics (2012) Conceptions in England and Wales 2010. Available at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2010/2010-conceptions-statistical-bulletin.html#tab-Conceptions-in-England-andWales-2010 (Accessed: 12 June 2012).
8 UK Youth Parliament (2007) SRE: Are you getting it? Available at http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/wpcontent/uploadsAreYouGettingIt.pdf. (Accessed 12 June 2012)
9 FPA and Brook (2012) Joint Statement from FPA and Brook on STI data released on 30 May 2012. Available at www.fpa.org.uk/pressarea/pressreleases/2012/may/joint-statement-from-fpa-and-brook-on-sti-data-released-on-30may-2012. (Accessed 12 June 2012)
10 Department of Health (2010) Healthy lives, healthy people: Our strategy for public health in England. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_127424.pdf (Accessed: 12 June 2012).
11 Bailey, J.V., Murray, E., Rait, G., Mercer, C.H., Morris, R.W., Peacock, R., Cassell, J. and Nazareth, I. (2010) Interactive computer-based interventions for sexual health promotion. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD006483.
DOI10.1002/14651858.CD006483.pub2.
12 Ross, J. D. C., Copas, A., Stephenson, J., Fellows, L. and Gilleran, G. (2007) Optimizing information technology to improve sexual health-care delivery: public and patient preferences. International Journal of STD and AIDs, 18, pp 440-445.
Images: www.hampshirecash.org.uk; blog.jericho.co.nz; www.plannerslounge.com; ww1.prweb.com; images.bigdug.co.uk; images.hayneedle.com; www.zephyrsouthwest.com; www.pvrdirect.co.uk