[WWW - 2023.07.31]

Data Element Detail

Person-sex
Identifying and Definitional Attributes
QH 040000 v3
Data Element
Data Element
Current
20-Oct-2008		Superseded
19-Mar-2018
Standard
20-Oct-2008
19-Mar-2018
The biological distinction between male and female.
Clinical and administrative purposes and individual identification.
Sex
Child gender (Birth notifications & Birth registrations)
Representational Attributes
Numeric
Code
N
1
1
Permissible Values

Permissible_values

CodeDescription
1Male
2Female
3Intersex or indeterminate
Supplementary Values

Supplemenary_values

CodeDescription
9Not stated/inadequately described
Collection and Usage Attributes
Sex data should be sourced from or verified against the data in the Corporate Reference Data System (CRDS) maintained by the Statistical Services Branch (SSB).

Where there is an inconsistency between anatomical and chromosomal characteristics, sex is based on anatomical characteristics.

Code 3 Intersex or indeterminate, refers to a person, who because of a genetic condition, was born with reproductive organs or sex chromosomes that are not exclusively male or female or whose sex has not yet been determined for whatever reason.

Code 3 Intersex or indeterminate, should be confirmed if reported for people aged 90 days or greater.

Death Registration Data Supply Requirement (DSR):
Provide the sex of the deceased person.

Birth Notification File Data Supply Requirement (DSR):
Provide the sex of the baby.
Must not be null.

The Oral Health Data Supply Requirement (DSR):
Can be null.
Operationally, sex is the distinction between male and female, as reported by a client or as determined by an interviewer.

When collecting data on sex by personal interview, asking the sex of the respondent is usually unnecessary and may be inappropriate, or even offensive. It is usually a simple matter to infer the sex of the respondent through observation, or from other cues such as the relationship of the person(s) accompanying the respondent, or first name. The interviewer may ask whether clients not present at the interview are male or female.

A client's sex may change during their lifetime as a result of procedures known alternatively as sex change, gender reassignment, transsexual surgery, transgender reassignment or sexual reassignment. Throughout this process, which may be over a considerable period of time, the client's sex could be recorded as either Male or Female.

In data collections that use the ICD-10-AM classification, where sex change is the reason for admission, diagnoses should include the appropriate ICD-10-AM code(s) that clearly identify that the client is undergoing such a process. This code(s) would also be applicable after the client has completed such a process, if they have a procedure involving an organ(s) specific to their previous sex (eg. where the client has prostate or ovarian cancer).

Diagnosis and procedure codes should be checked against the national ICD-10-AM sex edits, unless the client is undergoing, or has undergone a sex change as detailed in Collection methods or has a genetic condition resulting in a conflict between sex and ICD-10-AM code.

CODE 3 Intersex or indeterminate
- Is normally used for babies for whom sex has not been determined for whatever reason.
- Should not generally be used on data collection forms completed by the respondent.
- Should only be used if the client or respondent volunteers that the client is intersex or where it otherwise becomes clear during the collection process that the individual is neither male nor female.

CODE 9 Not stated/inadequately described
- Is not to be used on primary collection forms. It is primarily for use in administrative collections when transferring data from data sets where the item has not been collected.
This metadata item is common to both the National Community Services Data Dictionary and the National Health Data Dictionary. This definition for Intersex in Guide for use is sourced from the ACT Legislation (Gay, Lesbian and Transgender) Amendment Act 2003. NHDD specific: DSS - Diabetes (clinical): Referring to the National Diabetes Register Statistical profile (December 2000), the sex ratio varied with age. For ages less than 25 years, numbers of males and females were similar. At ages 25-44 years, females strongly outnumbered males, reflecting the effect of gestational diabetes in women from this group. For older age groups (45-74 years), males strongly outnumber females, and in the group of 75 and over, the ratio of males to females was reversed, with a substantially lower proportion of males in the population in this age group due to the higher female life expectancy. (AIHW National Mortality Database 1997/98; National Diabetes Register; Statistical Profile, December 2000). Other References: AS4846-2014 Person and provider identification in healthcare, Sydney: Standards Australia In AS4846-2014 alternative codes are presented for display purposes. Refer to the current standard for more detail.
Relational Attributes
Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

  • 1 - 15
ViewRelationshipMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifier & VersionApproval Status
SupersedesData ElementData ElementPerson-sexQH 040000 Version 2Superseded
Has been superseded byData ElementData ElementPerson-sex (code)QH 040000 Version 4Superseded
Is used in the calculation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v7.0)QH 041587 Version 8Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementData ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v6.0)QH 041587 Version 5Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementData ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v6.0x)QH 041587 Version 6Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementData ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v6.0)QH 041588 Version 5Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementData ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v6.0x)QH 041588 Version 6Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v7.0)QH 041587 Version 7Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v8.0)QH 041587 Version 9Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-diagnosis related group (AR-DRG v9.0)QH 041587 Version 10Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v7.0)QH 041588 Version 8Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v7.0)QH 041588 Version 7Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v8.0)QH 041588 Version 9Superseded
Is used in the derivation ofData ElementDerived Data ElementEpisode of admitted patient care-major diagnostic category (AR-DRG v9.0)QH 041588 Version 10Superseded
Relates toData ElementData ElementPerson-sex (QHAPDC)QH 042431 Version 1Superseded
Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

  • 1 - 15
ViewMetadata Item TypeMetadata Item SubtypeNameIdentifer & VersionObligationApproval StatusEffective FromEffective To
Information AssetData CollectionElective Surgery Data Collection (ESDC)QH 020110 Version 1MandatorySuperseded20-Oct-200819-Mar-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Census Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020304 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementElective Surgery Waiting List Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020303 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201730-Aug-2018
Information AssetData CollectionEmergency Data Collection (EDC)QH 020159 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-200919-Mar-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Removals Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020625 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201730-Jun-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementGastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE)-Waiting Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020626 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Information AssetData CollectionGastrointestinal Endoscopy Data Collection (GIEDC)-RemovalsQH 020277 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201519-Mar-2018
Information AssetData CollectionGastrointestinal Endoscopy Data Collection (GIEDC)-WaitingQH 020276 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201519-Mar-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementOral Health Data Supply Requirement (DSR)QH 020579 Version 1OptionalCurrent01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Cancer Registry (QCR) Data CollectionQH 020002 Version 1Superseded01-Jul-200930-Jun-2019
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Health Non-Admitted Patient Data Collection (QHNAPDC)QH 020262 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201430-Jun-2018
Information AssetData CollectionQueensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC)QH 020003 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-200930-Jun-2018
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementQueensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Baby Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2016-2017QH 020355 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201630-Jun-2017
Data Supply RequirementHHS Service AgreementQueensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Baby Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018QH 020358 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201719-Mar-2018
Information AssetData CollectionRadiation Therapy Data Collection (RTDC)QH 020274 Version 1MandatorySuperseded01-Jul-201519-Mar-2018
Source and Reference Attributes
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
METeOR data element: Person-sex, Identifier 287316, Health standard 04/05/2005 https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/287316/meteorItemView/long
Gender; Sex - client;