In the latest in a series of research and policy reviews on teenage pregnancy, we highlight how attention has predominately focused on the prevention of teenage pregnancy, often to the exclusion of teenagers who become parents.
New data released recently by the Office for National Statistics, shows that in 2010 the under-18 conception rate for England and Wales was at its lowest since 1969 at 35.5 conceptions per thousand women aged 15-17, a drop of 9.5% from 2009. The rate of pregnancy for girls under 16 has also dropped to seven conceptions per thousand girls aged 13-15. While the UK still has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe, the overall trend is steadily downwards.
This is positive news given that early motherhood is generally associated with poor outcomes for young women and their babies, including low educational achievement, poor physical and mental health, social isolation and child poverty. However, a recent publication by the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR), highlights that research and policy have tended to focus on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and pay little attention to support for teenage parents or on providing robust evidence on ‘what works’ to improve outcomes for them and their children. Certain groups, such as teenage fathers, are particularly poorly served by research and policy.
Given the current economic climate which has caused cuts to teenage pregnancy advisor posts in a number of local areas, there is a risk that support for existing teenage parents and their children will fall even further off the radar. However, the coalition government has developed a new child poverty strategy, with a particular focus on the early years of children’s development, and has invested in supporting couple relationships with a view to this helping parents. The TIHR was commissioned by Community Care Inform, an online reference site targeted at professionals working with children and families, to undertake a series of evidence reviews on teenage pregnancy. The latest publication produced by the TIHR was guidance for practitioners on supporting teenage parents including: health and wellbeing, access to education and employment, financial support, housing, relationships and parenting. It draws attention to examples of good practice in supporting teenage parents, with a specific focus on vulnerable groups such as looked-after children and the role of teenage fathers.
To read this latest publication on teenage parents please click here, or to read the others in the series please visit and subscribe to the Community Care Inform website.
For further information on this article, please contact Laura Stock or
Judy Corlyon.