Teenage Pregnancy Scrutiny Topic Group Seminar

Local overview – targets, trends and national recommended good practice

Christine Oker 18 May 2006

Hertfordshire TP targetsA 10 –year Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (2001-2010)

with a rolling annual Action Plan of implementation.

• 15% reduction in under 18 conception rate by 2004

• 45% reduction in under 18 conception rate by 2010

• Increase to 60% the participation of teenage

parents in education, training or employment to

reduce their risk of long-term social exclusion by

2010

Teenage Pregnancy Trends in Hertfordshire Source: ONS & TPU, Jan 2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Und

er 1

8 co

ncep

tion

rate

per

100

0

Hertfordshire

England

East England

1998 baseline

2004 target

2010 target

Overall % change in U18 conception – 1998 -2003Eastern RegionSource: ONS & TPU, Feb 2006  1998

Numbers1998 Rates 2004

Numbers 2004 Rates Overall %

change 1998-2003

England 41,089 46.6  39,545 41.5 -11.1

East of England 3,592 37.9 3,389 32.8 -13

Hertfordshire County 588 32 546 27.4 -14.5

Luton UA 159 43.1 180 44.7 3.8

Peterborough UA 185 57.7 175 53.8 -6.7

Southend-on-Sea UA 155 56.4 135 47.4 -16

Thurrock UA 147 62.3 123 43.1 -30.7

Bedfordshire County 282 41 242 32.3 -21.2

Cambridgeshire County 305 31.4 268 25.6 -18.6

Essex County 841 36.9 773 30.6 -17

Norfolk 491 37 513 35.8 -3.2

Suffolk 439 37.5 434 33.9 -9.6

Under 18 conception split by age group, 2001-2003 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Rate

per

1000 g

irls

aged 1

5-1

7

16-17

<16

<16   16-17Hertfordshire 5.4   23.6East England 6.3   27.7England 8.1   34.3

A different picture at district level….

Overall % change in U18 conception at Herts district level – 1998 -2003Source: ONS & TPU Jan, 2006

Hertfordshire Districts

1998Number

1998Rate

2003Number

2003Rate

Overall% change1998-2003

Broxbourne 53 37.5 57 34.8 -7.2

Dacorum 101 39.8 68 25.8 -35.2

East Hertfordshire

52 23.5 50 20.7 -11.8

Hertsmere 39 23.5 50 27.2 16.8

North Hertfordshire

69 31.7 67 32.0 0.7

St. Albans 52 23.3 42 18.4 -20.8

Stevenage 76 53.5 78 47.6 -11.1

Three Rivers 51 33.6 36 21.8 -35.1

Watford 51 36.7 34 24.5 -33.2

Welwyn Hatfield

44 24.8 61 33.5 36.1

Ward Level Conception ….

Ward Level Conception …

There are 14 wards in the county with under 18 conception

rates among the highest 20% in England. These wards are

spread out with some in districts with low conception rates.

Source: TPU, under 18 conception rates at ward level 2001-2003

Education attainment also has an impact over and above the effects of deprivation

Deprived wards with higher educational attainment have lower teenage conception ratesSource: TPU, 2005

Educational attainment & teenage pregnancyin 20% most deprived w ards

77.4

63.2

43.4

0

20

40

60

80

100

< 40% 40-60% > 60%

% girls w ith 5+ GCSEs A-C

Link between education attainment and u18 conception rate in Herts

Under 18 Conception Rate vs Girls Educational Attainment, Hertfordshire Local Authorities, 2003

R2 = 0.91

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98

Percent of girls with 5 or more GCSE's at grades A*-G

Co

ncep

tio

n R

ate

Understanding the causes of teenage pregnancy is complex……

Sexual activity

Contraceptive use Behaviour Alcohol

Knowledge: sex, contraception & relationships Family/

community

Access: to contraception &

advice

PHSE/SRE outside school

PHSE/SRE in school

Peer groups

School: attainment, attendance, aspirations

Wider social,

economic, environmental

factors

Influences Individual

characteristics

Planned birth (14%)

Abortion (46%)

Unplanned birth (40%)

Under 18 conception

Outcomes Planned birth

(14%) Abortion (46%)

Unplanned birth (40%)

Under 18 conception

Outcomes Planned birth

(14%) Abortion (46%)

Unplanned birth (40%)

Under 18 conception

Outcomes

Some Local Challenges…

• Understanding the causes of teenage

pregnancy locally

remains complex

• Mainstreaming of successful projects

• Ongoing re-organisation in Health

• Education of school age mothers

•SRE support to schools

National Recommended Good Practice – “deep dive findings” • All key partners contributing to the Strategy

• Strong delivery of SRE/PSHE by schools

• Accessible, confidential, highly visible, young people friendly sexual health/contraceptive advice services

• Workforce training on sex and relationship issues within mainstream partner agencies

• Targeted work with at risk groups of young people, in particular Looked After Children

• Active and well resourced youth service