Gonorrhoea in the West Midlands

The number of cases of gonorrhoea in residents of areas served by district health authorities of the West Midlands has been measured to provide an indicator of this population's sexual health. A detailed data set was collected on all cases of gonorrhoea diagnosed at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the West Midlands region during a three month period. Consultants in genitourinary medicine and colleagues in public health medicine cooperated, and data collection was complete for all but one clinic. The numbers of new cases of gonorrhea seen at GUM clinics varied widely between districts. The number of cases in the first quarter of 1992 in several districts implied a much higher incidence than the national annual rate of 61 new cases per 100,000 population in 1990. The routine workload statistics (KC60) from GUM clinics do not provide data on cases' area of residence. Further special surveys are needed to monitor trends in particular populations to assist progress towards targets for sexual health.