Teenage pregnancy

One in every ten babies born in England is to a teenage mother. These children are at high risk of growing up in poverty and experiencing poor health and social outcomes. Infant mortality rates for babies born to mothers under the age of 18 are twice the average.

Calderdale’s strategy to reduce conceptions and support young parents has resulted in a decrease of over 19% of teenage pregnancies since 1998. This more than achieves the Government’s national target of 15%.

All Calderdale secondary schools now have the CHOICES SRE programme to support the development of young people’s relationship skills, and services to increase young people’s awareness of sexual health and contraception, including the right to say no to a sexual relationship, and the benefits of delaying early sex.

For young people who have chosen to have a sexual relationship, contraception and sexual health services have been broadened and made more accessible.

The Teenage Parents Midwifery Service is working to strengthen the support given to young parents to continue their education and training in order to better support their new family.

For further information regarding the implementation of the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in Calderdale, please contact:

Name:
Joanna Nichols, Calderdale Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator
Telephone:
01422 369278.