Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe and the second highest, after the USA, in the world. Depressingly, the map of teenage pregnancy is the map of British deprivation. In my own constituency, the Rhondda, the figures are striking. There were 101 live births to teenagers last year. That means that nearly 1 in 25 of all the 2,325 teenage women in the Rhondda gave birth in 2006. It was not an unusual year.
And the Rhondda does not have the highest rate for teenage mums in England or in Wales.
Everybody wants to tackle the problem. Churches complain about it. Children’s charities worry about it. Local authorities fret about it. Parents and teachers are anxious about it. The Government is committed to action and has managed to cut the rate since its peak between 1995 and 97 by roughly 12%.
But the truth is that in Britain this is proving a remarkably intransigent problem. Cracking it will require far greater political determination. We need to be prepared to challenge deeply held prejudices and perceptions about sex, about education, about growing up and about what the state should provide. We need to face the fact that youngsters are sexualised very early on television, in popular music, in young people’s magazines – and that the whole pressure from the media is towards early (and incidentally, often illegally early) sexual experience. And we need to look at other countries’ experiences – because they have been far more successful in cutting teenage pregnancy rates.
This is not a question of being more liberal or more conservative. Natural conservatives have to acknowledge that their opposition to good statutory sex education and contraception is part of the problem. And liberals need to come to terms with the fact that laissez faire cultural attitudes to sex have equally contributed to the soaring rates and that many girls, especially in the poorest communities, choose to become pregnant as young teenagers.
Of course many teenage mums, against the odds, are immensely successful parents. And the last thing they need from politicians is a self righteous lecture. But tackling teenage pregnancy is one of the most important challenges we face in areas like the Rhondda. It is one of the major reasons that poverty is handed down through the generations. It perpetuates the vicious cycle of under-achievement, benefit dependency, ill health, lack of aspiration, poor parenting and child poverty that blights so many areas of Britain. Judgemental attitudes are unlikely to work. Many teenagers just snort at ‘abstinence only’ messages. But we have to build in secure incentives for teenagers not to choose teenage parenthood as an alternative to education or employment.
Whatever our personal attitudes to sex, we have to look at what works – and what is not working now. It is an urgent problem. Some may say that it is notoriously difficult for politicians or for Government to shift social attitudes, but I am certain we can make a difference.
Points well made
Sian Smith, 2008-01-28 10:10:53
I agree with mot of what you say - but I do think 11 is too young for kids to be talking about sex
, 2008-01-28 11:01:13
Hello Not sure how much you are aware of things that are happening locally. There is a scheme that provides free condoms in the borough called the Condom Card Scheme. As condoms cant just be given out for governance reasons a sexual health nurse comes to see a person and gives them a card, they can then visit a C Card location, probably youth club, up to 10 times without having to see the nurse again. Where it works it works well, the problem you will find is only really works in the Cynon as they have the nurses, the Rhondda and Taff trust don’t. There is currently training available for youth workers in the Cynon in a pilot form but there is little point in training others without the sexual health nurses in place. There is currently a sexual health review taking place, this is at the strategy development phase. Basically a focus on preventative is key but this needs to be financed and there needs to be equity across the borough. If you want more info get in touch with those on the steering group for the strategy P.S. No age is to young to talk to kids about anything, its the way tyou do it. It creates an open relationship with the parent!
Lisa Morgan, Wales, Cardiff 2008-02-18 23:00:40
I'm 15 myself and expecting in 6weeks, i think teenage pregnancies are inebitable and will carry on happening and there is nothing any body can do about it apart from explaining to their children the different forms on contraception. I was nieve and thought it wouldnt happen to me but it does happen, this is what people need to be telling there children and telling them if something does happen don't be afraid to tell them and that they won't be angry because that is also a massive cause of teenage pregnancies, they no something has gone wrong but they are too scared to convide in any one so they keep it to themselves and hope the problem will go away. But as a parent there is only so much you can tell your children, just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best, and be supportive.
REBECCA, LONDON 2008-02-23 20:37:54
I THINK THAT IF TEENAGERS WANT TO BECOME MUMS THAT IS THERE DECISION SOME TEENAGE MUMS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND SOME WONT. PEOPLE SHOULD STILL TELL THEM RIGHT FROM WRONG. WE SHOULD ALSO HELP SUPPORT THEM BY GUIDING THEM AND NOT PRESSURE THEM
Kama McKenzie, Maidstone in Kent 2008-03-07 20:28:02
Here in Maidstone we were given the title of europes highest with teenage parents, well as a young parent I have made a difference to other young parents lives by forming Maidstone Young Families
paris, norwich 2008-03-26 12:53:27
im 17 and about to give birth to my first baby, yea i am a teen mum but i can to much better then some older mums out there, im still with the dad we live together in our own private rented house so we dont have benefits, he works and our baby has everything he needs. we maybe young but we are as good as any mother dont judge us be for you no us, never judge a book by its cover................
izi, Wales 2008-04-25 11:34:55
I am 16 and have a 2day old baby people look down on me and i hate it, i have done what i think is best for my baby,and i enjoy it sooooo much.
lauren, guernsey 2008-05-15 10:53:44
i think your website is quite rude to be honest. i am currently 8 and a half months pregnant and im 15 ; i didnt get pregnant out of choise so its a bit rude writing that i choose parenthood as an alternative to education and employment because im still at school sitting my gcse's and in october am starting college whilst my childminder has my baby because my parents are paying.so stop judging because teenage parents can do a better job because they have more time
carron, UK 2008-06-04 22:09:30
hey well I'm a 16 year old female and even though you can say talk more to teenagers about sex and pregnancy but no matter what you say there will be teenagers between the ages of 15-19 who will become teenage parents! in some ways i think you should talk more about the dangers of sex yeah sure pregnancy should be mentioned but not as much as the HIV and stuff because more teenagers manage to listen to the side affect on that subject more they do on pregnancy and the protection! i think in schools they should do two groups in every year one for the males and one for the females and the teachers are the same sex as the group because all teenagers don't like to ask questions with the opersite sex in the same room as them so they will never get answers and the questions will still be going around in there heads until they find the answers the hard way (experience sex and the side effects themselfs). i never got the chance to learn the easy way by school or parents but luckily enough i understand not to have sex until i was ready to have sex and to always use protection!! thank you for listening to my point of view and i hope every one will understand where I'm coming from on this subject. carron xx
mark, UK 2008-06-04 22:29:49
hi im a 19yr old male and i just wanted to say, that i believe that teenagers 14-16 are more likely to have sex now than they were 20 years ago. i personally put this down to how much sex is shown on TV and on the Internet, with that been said i believe its time that this government stopped beating about the bush and actually address the issue of teenage mums and what they can do to support them one child cost's £15,000 to feed and clothe them and provide for them un till the child is 18. as the current sex education system stands its all down to the school to decide what level of sex education is provided if any that is with catholic schools opting out of the sex education completely. when i was in school my sex education was very basic it was mixed in with pshe lessons and we always had the same teacher which was female for me that made me more uncomfortable than if it had been one of the male teachers taking the class. in fact i learnt more about sex though actually having sex and talking with my friends about it than i did in school, i believe that unless this matter is addressed and soon their could be a epidemic of teenage mums who don't have the esential emotional development or the social support to raise a child. thanks for taking the time to read my post mark.
Hayley Fellingham, Reading, Berkshire 2008-07-06 00:21:49
I get very angry when people talk about teenage mothers. I am a teenage mum and i feel that we are all classed as one. When in fact every situation is different and people should not be so quick to judge. I have read the facts that are on your pamphlet and maybe they are facts but that does not mean they apply to every single teenage mother. I was 16 when i fell pregnant and gave birth to healthy baby girl weighing 8lbs 6oz.I breastfed her and cooked all of her food myself. She is now two and a half and I have just successfully toilet trained her. She is a bright little girl. I had completed my G.C.S.E's and had a full time job. My partner also had a full time job and we have both worked so hard to provide for our daughter. It is true that when we first started out, we did have some help with benefits but two years on we have managed to buy our home and only receive child benefit, which any parent receives. We both work full time and my partner is a deputy manager of a restaurant. It is so unfair to judge young parents as there are some who do work for what they have and want their children to grow up with everything they need. I never see it spread across the papers how irresponsible it is for parents to be having children over the age of forty. Not only for the risks of health problems for mother and baby but also the fact that when that child attends school they will be being picked up by somone in their mid-fifties, who looks more like a grandparent then a parent. Older parents will not have the energy that I have. I work full time and still manage to take my daughter swimming, to sing-along session etc. Instead of focusing on the negative side of teenage pregancy, maybe people should praise us teenage mums for being so brave to have a baby at such a young age. Contraception can never be 100% and this should be recognised, instead of being ignored. Teenage mums make the best, most caring mums as the have the time and energy for their children. It is unfair to slate the mums that do decide to stay at home to care for their children. The whole point of having a child is to bring that child up.
jess hynes, stourbridge 2008-07-10 01:10:33
i dont think that it is just a case of giving teenagers condoms.i think that many teenagers think that they are ready to become parents and make a conscious decision to become parents at a young age and would abandon condoms even if they were sent through the post. Maybe more emphasis should be placed on the value of being in a stable relationship before having a child.i got pregnant at 16,and even though my daughter is fantastic i would have coped better if i had the support of another parent and a bit more life experience.
Grahame, Swansea 2008-07-11 16:04:11
Looking at alot of online forums for teenage mums, I am startled by the number of young teenage mums who say they were using the pill or the condom when they concieved. It seems to me that alot of these young girls start having sex early, because they are assured by teachers and health proffessionals etc that if they use contraception they won't get pregnant. They are not told that contraception has a failure rate, and an even bigger failure rate if you account for human error. I do not think that young people should recieve abstinence only education but I do think that sex education should teach about the pill, condom etc having failure rates and teach abstaining from sex within the context of contraception and explain how this is 100% effective. This way you are not telling them not to have sex, your just out lining the facts as they are and letting them make a choice.
xox, reading 2008-09-02 11:36:16
I'm a 17 year old girl who is 22 weeks pregnant. I don't think the reason I found myself in this situation at such a young age is because of a lack of knowledge in sex education or a difficulty to get hold of contraception. Nor did I get pregnant intentionally because I 'dont see a future for myself'. I think the main reason was the lifestyle I led that included too much alcohol and a belief that I would be ok. I think abortions have become an easy way out for most girls and benefits are an easy way for many young girls to fall in to and I think these are the factors that need re-thinking. I come from a middle class background and am not a stereotypical 'viki pollard' mum. After I've had my baby I plan to finish my a levels and go to uni and make something out of my life and I'm sure this is the case for many other teenage mums.
