The Social Exclusion Report on Teenage Pregnancy (June 1999) stated that Britain had the worst record of teenage pregnancies in Western Europe with approximately 90,000 teenagers becoming pregnant every year. Every part of the country is affected, but the situation is worst in the poorest areas. The report highlighted two main goals:
- Reducing the rate of teenage conceptions, with the specific aim of halving the rate of conceptions among under 18s by 2010
- Getting more teenage parents into education, training or employment, to reduce the risk of long term social exclusion
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit a cross-Government unit located within the Department of Health, was set up to implement the Report. It is now part of the Department for Education and Skills.
A National Action Plan was developed which included:
- A national campaign to improve understanding and change behaviour
- Joined Up action - through the national unit and local co-ordination
- Better Prevention - better education in and out of school, access to contraception, targeting at-risk groups such as youth offenders
- Better Support for Teenage Parents- around education, childcare and housing
Northamptonshire County Council Teenage Pregnancy Strategy
Although rates in Northamptonshire have been gradually declining in recent years, the County has certain areas with high rates compared to other areas in the UK and has therefore developed a ten year strategy and action plan, in line with government requirements.
Northamptonshire County Council action plan:
A comprehensive document detailing the actions to be taken in the following categories:-
- Media and communications
- Better prevention sex and relationships education in schools
- Better prevention sex and relationships education out of schools
- Better access to services: contraceptive advice and support
- Better support
- Supported housing
- Childcare
- Education training and employment for teenage parents and pregnant teenagers
Teenage Conception Rates – Northamptonshire
An analysis of 3 year rolling averages, used in order to smooth out year-on-year variations, shows that the under 18-conception rate in Northamptonshire has fallen from 46.3 per 1000 in 1998 to 45.3 per 1000 in 2002 (a fall of around 2.2%).
For Northamptonshire, the targets set by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit are:
- To halve conception rates by 2010 from 46.3 per 1000 to 23.15 per 1000, with an interim target of a 10% reduction to 41.3 by 2004.
- To increase the number of teenage parents in education, employment and training by 60% by 2010.
- Inclusion Teenage Pregnancy - Contacts
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