Teen Pregnancy

About the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy

The Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy represents the first coordinated attempt to tackle both the causes and the consequences of teenage pregnancy. The strategy's targets are

• Halve the under-18 conception rate by 2010, taking 1998 as a baseline year
• Increase the proportion of teenage parents in education, training or employment to reduce their risk of long-term social exclusion

All local areas have a 10-year strategy in place, with local under-18 conception rate reduction targets of between 40 and 60%. These local targets underpin the national 50% reduction target.

Key Factors for Reducing Teenage Pregnancy

Evidence from areas with the largest reductions has identified a range of factors that need to be in place to successfully reduce teenage pregnancy rates. All areas are now being asked to implement these factors, which are

• Engagement of delivery partners
  Active engagement of all of the key mainstream delivery partners who have a role in reducing teenage pregnancies: health, education, social services, youth support services, and the voluntary sector. 
• Selection of a senior champion
  A strong senior champion who is responsible for the local strategy and can take the lead in implementing it. 
• Effective sexual health advice service
  The availability of a well-publicised contraceptive and sexual health advice service which is centred on young people. The service needs to have a strong remit to undertake health promotion work, as well as delivering reactive services. 
• Prioritisation of sex and relationships education
  High priority given to PSHE in schools, with support from the local authority to develop comprehensive programmes of sex and relationships education (SRE) in all schools. 
• Focus on targeted interventions
  A strong focus on targeted interventions with young people at greatest risk of teenage pregnancy, in particular with looked-after children.
• Training on SRE for partner organisations
  The availability and consistent take-up of SRE training for professionals in partner organisations who work with the most vulnerable young people, such as Connexions personal advisers, targeted youth support (TYS) lead professionals, youth workers and social workers.
•  Well-resourced youth service
  Providing things to do and places to go for young people, with a clear focus on addressing key social issues affecting young people, such as sexual health and substance misuse.

Evidence shows that children whose parents talk to them openly and honestly about sex and relationships have 'first-sex' later and are more likely to use contraception when they do become sexually active. DCSF has provided funding to fpa (Family Planning Association) to extend its ‘Speakeasy’ - a structured programme of advice and support for parents on talking to their children about sex and relationships - to more local areas. 

Improving Outcomes

The strategy also includes action to improve outcomes for teenage parents and their children. The range of poorer outcomes they experience in comparison to older mothers includes

• Poor child health outcomes
  Children born to teenage mothers have 60% higher rates of infant mortality and are at increased risk of low birth-weight which impacts on the child's long-term health. 
• Poor emotional health and well-being experienced by teenage mothers
  Teenage mothers are 3 times more likely to suffer from post-natal depression and experience poor mental health for up to 3 years after the birth. 
• Teenage parents' poor economic well-being
  Teenage parents and their children are at increased risk of living in poverty.

To find out more, and access other key guidance documents, go to teenage pregnancy.