County Durham Local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy - Full Document

Background and Information
Within Western Europe, the UK now stands out as having the highest rate of
teenage births. The UK has teenage birth rates which are twice as high as in
Germany, three times as high as in France and six times as high as in the
Netherlands. 1
In June 1999, the Government produced a national teenage pregnancy strategy
with two goals:
• To halve the rate of conceptions among under 18 year olds in
England by 2010, and set firmly established downward trend in the
conception rates for under 16s by 2010.
• To achieve a reduction in the risk of long term social exclusion for
teenage parents and their children. 2
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit published a document entitled Guidance on
Developing a Local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. The guidance stated that
local strategies must be produced to tackle teenage pregnancy and that those
strategies must be coterminous with local authority and social services
boundaries. County Durham and Darlington each needed its own strategy.
The guidance stated that each document must contain a ten year strategy and
a three year action plan to include detailed proposals and actions.
5
1. Social Exclusion Unit (1999)
2. Teenage Pregnancy Unit
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has stated that the Health Authority and Local
(Social Services/Education) Authorities have joint responsibility for the
development and implementation of the local strategy. It states that there
should be joined up action between Health, Education, Social Services and
Voluntary Agencies and that there should be consultation with key
stakeholders, particularly young people. The joined up action should be based
on Better Prevention to include:
• Better Sex and Relationships Education
• Better Information, Advice and Contraceptive Services
• Better support for Teenage Parents
• The production of a Local Media Strategy.
A countywide steering group was established with representatives from the
Health Authority, Local Authorities of County Durham and Darlington, and
Voluntary Agencies. It was agreed that young people would be consulted when
the draft strategy was completed. In addition, key stakeholders including young
people, parents and at risk groups, will be consulted during the implementation
process.