Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

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Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 Chapter 4 Teenage Pregnancy What’s the problem? Although young people can be very good parents and we have many examples locally, teenage parents and their children are more likely to experience a range of negative outcomes. These include a higher risk of poverty; low self esteem; low levels of educational attainment; social isolation; depression; and poor physical, sexual and mental health 17 . This is often an inter - generational cycle, with children born to teenage parents up to three times more likely to become teenage parents themselves. The rate of teenage pregnancy in North Somerset has remained relatively low, 4 consistently within the bottom third in the country, but has fluctuated greatly throughout the ten year period (Figure 5). Between 1998 and 2009 North Somerset achieved a 2.5% reduction in teenage pregnancies. This compares with an 18.1% reduction in England. Reflecting the national picture, the areas in North Somerset with the highest number of teenage pregnancies are those with higher levels of poverty. These are predominately in Weston-super-Mare, with a concentration in Central and South Wards. Figure 5 Under 18 conception rolling quarterly rates in North Somerset, South West and England (1999 – 2010) Source: Office of National Statistics (ONS) conception statistics. 17 Department of Health. Teenage Pregnancy research programme briefing. Long-term consequences of teenage births for Parents and their Children. March 2004. 18
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 Sarah’s Story Sarah (not her real name) suffered a miscarriage at the age of 15. Her pregnancy was unplanned but Sarah wanted to get pregnant again. She was struggling at school and had no aspirations for the future. Sarah was seen by the outreach nurse at school who identified that both Sarah and boyfriend Paul were struggling emotionally to come to terms with the loss of the baby. They explored where Sarah wanted to be in five years time and looked at scenarios where Sarah became a teenage mum and ones where she did not. Contraception was discussed and the nurse explained to Sarah that having reliable contraception in place would allow her to be more in control about decisions affecting her future. The nurse helped Sarah to arrange access to an appointment at her GP practice to get a contraceptive injection. Sarah was referred to a young person’s counselling service to help her deal with her grief and to a Connexions worker to discuss options for her future. Paul agreed to a referral to the local Boys and Young Men’s worker for support. The nurse made several follow up visits and phone calls. After discharge Sarah’s feedback expressed how she would have been pregnant again without outreach support to help her make appropriate decisions and to get contraception. 19
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Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

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