This dataset presents the crude rate of GP-prescribed long acting reversible contraception (LARC), excluding injections, per 1,000 GP-registered females aged 15 to 44 years. It provides insight into the uptake of effective, long-term contraceptive methods prescribed in general practice, supporting efforts to improve reproductive health and reduce unintended pregnancies.
Rationale
The rationale for this indicator is to increase the uptake of GP-prescribed long acting reversible contraception. LARC methods are among the most effective forms of contraception and are recommended for reducing unplanned pregnancies, particularly among younger women.
Numerator
The numerator is the number of LARC items (excluding injections) prescribed by GPs, based on data from Birmingham City Council’s LARC contract.
Denominator
The denominator is the GP-registered female population aged 15 to 44 years, using data from Birmingham and Solihull GP registration records.
Caveats
Solihull data is currently unavailable. GP activity is assigned to the host local authority of the GP practice’s main base, which may not reflect the patient’s residence. Additionally, some women—particularly younger women—may choose to access LARC through Sexual and Reproductive Health Services rather than GP practices, which may lead to underrepresentation in this dataset.
External references
Localities Explained
This dataset contains data based on either the resident locality or registered locality of the patient, a distinction is made between resident locality and registered locality populations:
- Resident Locality refers to individuals who live within the defined geographic boundaries of the locality. These boundaries are aligned with official administrative areas such as wards and Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs).
- Registered Locality refers to individuals who are registered with GP practices that are assigned to a locality based on the Primary Care Network (PCN) they belong to. These assignments are approximate—PCNs are mapped to a locality based on the location of most of their GP surgeries. As a result, locality-registered patients may live outside the locality, sometimes even in different towns or cities.
This distinction is important because some health indicators are only available at GP practice level, without information on where patients actually reside. In such cases, data is attributed to the locality based on GP registration, not residential address.
Click here to explore more from the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Partnerships Outcome Framework.