Intelligence Update – October 2025

This page covers local intelligence releases of note in October 2025. You can view all public health intelligence updates on our Intelligence page.

Sexual and Reproductive Health profiles

In October 2025 all HIV indicators were updated with the most recent 2024 data as part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health profiles.

HIV testing rate per 100,000 population

This indicator shows HIV testing among people who accessed sexual health services expressed as a rate per 100,000.

In South Tyneside this was a rate of 1,668.8 per 100,000.
This was significantly lower than the regional rate of 2,135.3 per 100,000 and the national rate of 2,842.7 per 100,000.
Fingertips show the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside is increasing and getting better.

HIV diagnosed prevalence rate per 1,000

This indicator shows the number of people diagnosed and accessing HIV care, expressed as a rate per 1,000 population.

In South Tyneside this was a rate of 0.65 per 1,000 population.
This was significantly better than the regional rate of 0.93 per 1,000 and the national rate of 1.77 per 1,000.
Fingertips shows the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside has no significant change.

HIV diagnosed prevalence rate per 1,000 aged 15 to 59 years

This indicator shows the people aged 15 to 59 years seen at HIV services, expressed as a rate per 1,000 population.

In South Tyneside this was a rate of 0.95 per 1,000 population.
This was significantly lower than the regional rate of 1.33 per 1,000 and the national rate of 2.40 per 1,000.
Fingertips shows the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside has no significant change.

HIV late diagnosis

As part of diagnosing HIV, CD4 counts are measured, which are crucial cells needed for a healthy immune system. This indicator shows the percentage of adults newly diagnosed with HIV with a CD4 count less than 350 cells per mm³. A typical CD4 count sits between 500 – 1500 cells per mm³, this typically decreases as a HIV disease gets worse.

In South Tyneside this was 0.0%, which has remained the same for the last three years.
This was significantly better than the regional percentage of 41.0% and the national percentage of 43.3%.
A trend cannot be calculated for this indicator.

There were other indicators as part of this profile which can be found here:
Sexual and Reproductive Health Profiles | Fingertips | Department of Health and Social Care

Child and Maternal Health profiles

In October 2025 the annual update of the Child and Maternal Health profiles was released with indicators relating to pregnancy and birth outcomes, educational outcomes and school attendance.

Smoking status at time of delivery

This indicator release shows the percentage of mothers known to be smokers at time of delivery, now updated for 2024/25.

In South Tyneside this was 8.6%.
This was statistically worse than the national percentage of 6.1% but not statistically different to the regional percentage of 7.9%.
Fingertips shows that the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside is decreasing and getting better.

Under 18s conception rate

This indicator release shows the conceptions in girls aged 15-17 as a rate per 1,000, updated for 2022.

In South Tyneside this was 18.3 per 1,000.
This was not significantly different to the regional rate of 19.7 per 1,000 or the national rate of 13.9 per 1,000.
Fingertips shows the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside has no significant change.

Low birth weight of term babies

This indicator release shows us the percentage of births with a recorded birth weight of under 2500g and a gestational age of at least 37 weeks, now updated for 2024.

In South Tyneside this was 2.4%.
This was not significantly different to the regional percentage of 2.8% or the national percentage of 3.0%.
Fingertips shows the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside has no significant change.

Persistent absentees – Primary Schools

This indicator release shows us the percentage of primary school enrolments classed as persistent absentees (defined as missing 10% or more of possible sessions), now updated for 2023/24.

In South Tyneside this was 16.7%.
This is significantly higher than the regional percentage of 15.8% and the national percentage of 14.6%.
A trend cannot be calculated for this indicator. However, this indicator remains at significantly higher rates compared to pre-pandemic data points.

Persistent absentees – Secondary Schools

This indicator release shows us the percentage of secondary school enrolments classed as persistent absentees (defined as missing 10% or more of possible sessions), now updated for 2023/24.

In South Tyneside this was 27.7%.
This is not significantly different to the regional percentage of 28.4% but is significantly worse than the national percentage of 25.6%.
A trend cannot be calculated for this indicator. However, this indicator remains at significantly higher rates compared to pre-pandemic data points.

Children eligible for free school meals

This indicator release shows the percentage of students who are eligible for free school meals who attend state funded schools, now updated for 2024/25.

In South Tyneside this was 33.4%.
This is significantly higher than the regional percentage of 32.3% and the national percentage of 25.7%.
Fingertips shows the recent trend for this indicator in South Tyneside is increasing and getting worse.

Suicide prevention profiles

In October 2025 the Suicide prevention profiles were updated with new data for the Suicide rate portion of indicators. These have now been updated to the three-year pooled period 2022-24. These three indicators show the age standardised mortality rate for suicide per 100,000 population.

Suicide rate (Persons)

In South Tyneside this was 8.7 per 100,000.
This is significantly better than the regional rate of 14.1 per 100,000 but is not significantly different to the national rate of 10.9 per 100,000.

Suicide rate (Male)

In South Tyneside this was 13.5 per 100,000.
This is significantly better than the regional rate of 22.6 per 100,000, but not significantly different to the national rate of 16.8 per 100,000.

Suicide rate (Female)

A rate could not be calculated for this indicator in South Tyneside. This is due to the small number of cases recorded.