Essex C-card
| Description | Essex C-card supplies free condoms to people aged under 20 |
|---|---|
| Setting | Various settings, including "non-health" settings such as leisure centres |
| Populationting | Men and women aged under 20 |
| Intervention summary | C-cards are issued, which allow the user to access outlets to obtain up to 36 additional condoms |
| Outcome Summary | Reduced teenage conceptions and reduced sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
| Startup Cost | See below. |
| Running Cost | £36 000 has been set aside for the project which is still in its first year |
| Funding | Teenage Pregnancy Grant |
| Started | 2006 |
| Ended | Ongoing |
| Location | Essex, England |
| Contact |
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Background
Essex C-card supplies free condoms to people aged under 20 years via a variety of settings, including "non-health" settings. All Essex-wide Connexions offices are outlets for the scheme, including some community pharmacists, leisure centres and youth service centres.
What is the problem you are trying to solve?
The project aims to reduce teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What local organisations are involved?
The scheme is funded via the Teenage Pregnancy Grant and is multi-agency. For example, all Connexions offices are outlets for the scheme. In some areas, the commercial sector is involved – for example, leisure centres.
How many people are running this project and who are they?
The project is administered overall by Richard Gill, sexual health lead for Mid Essex Primary Care Trust. A steering group of eight people oversees the project. Several health people are involved in locality settings to administer the scheme on a local basis.
What local population are you targeting?
Young men and women aged under 20 years
How many people are you targeting?
All under 20s across Essex
Interventions
What interventions are you using to address the problem?
C-cards are issued by assessors who decide on the appropriateness for users to be part of the scheme. This is particularly important for users aged under 16 when child protection and competence issues will be discussed. Possession of the C-card allows users to access outlets to obtain up to 36 additional condoms before needing to see an assessor once more for a new card.
Is the project design based on evidence? If so, please state reference.
The scheme commenced in Lothian, Scotland and there are now approximately 50 schemes either in development or operational across the country. The evidence base resides in the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy from the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.
Outcome
What outcomes or planned outcomes are you measuring?
Analysis of the project takes place with respect to cards issued, gender split, age, postcode of residence, ethnicity mix and number of condoms issued.
Do you have any outcomes or results yet? If so, what are they?
Ultimately, a reduction in teenage pregnancies and STIs.
Is your project relevant to a government target or guideline?
Yes, the government’s targets to "reduce the rate of teenage conceptions with the specific aim of halving [45% in Essex county (excluding Southend and Thurrock)] the rate of conceptions among under 18s, in the broader context of improving sexual health" [1, 2]; to "increase the participation of teenage parents in education, training and employment to 60% by 2010" 1 ; and to "reduce by 25% the number of newly acquired HIV infections and gonorrhoea by the end of 2007" [3, 2].
Feedback
What obstacles did you have to overcome to set up this project?
It took a long time (approximately 18 months in total) to bring all the agencies required on board with the scheme, to develop the protocols and forms required, and initiate the training programme for assessors and outlets. This is all now in situ.
What have you learned about the project so far?
The project is evolving as we go. Protocols and forms used have undergone some revision. Leaflets promoting the scheme have also been revised and an Essex C-card website is now operational.
What would you do differently?
Perhaps taken more opportunity to see what other areas around the country were doing.
References:
- Social Exclusion Report on Teenage Pregnancy. 1999. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/teenagepregnancy/dsp_content.cfm?pageID=84 (accessed 16 April 2007).
- Department of Health. Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier. 2004. www.dh.gov.uk (search for 4135, accessed 16 April 2007).
- Department of Health. Better prevention, better services, better sexual health - The national strategy for sexual health and HIV. 2001. http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/05/89/45/04058945.pdf (accessed 16 April 2007).