1. TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN WHITBY WORKSHOP Scott Anderson Simon Orange 29Jan10

2. What we’ll cover Planned teenage pregnancy Sexual behaviour in seaside (and rural) areas School-children in coastal areas of N Yorkshire: attitudes to sexual health (and alcohol)

3. Planned teenage pregnancy In some situations having a baby can represent a rational decision with some beneficial outcomes For young women, ‘planning’ ranges across a continuum: - discussing openly with partners and taking steps to ensure a positive, healthy pregnancy - a limited discussion, ‘just knowing it was going to happen’ - partner not involved, usually unsure - being fatalistic ie inconsistent or non use of contraception Although all know how to use contraception, some do not make the connection between a lack of it and the real possibility of becoming pregnant ie they do not know just how fertile they are. The majority of young women keep the planning of their pregnancy secret, and believe that friends, family and health professionals all assume it’s an accident, due to their age. Factors affecting the decision to get pregnant include: - an unsettled background (parental separation; difficult relationships in family; moving location frequently) - poor educational attainment (driven by dislike of academic work and teachers, and by truancy, mainly due to bullying) - limited employment or training opportunities (including difficulty of transport to them in rural areas) - high visibility and acceptance in the area of other young parents (including themselves being the child of teenage parents) - a mis-carriage, even of an unplanned pregnancy - the fear that they may not be able to have children

4. Planned teenage pregnancy Choosing to become pregnant is an opportunity within their control to change their life for the better – a route out of family unhappiness; a chance for independence; an opportunity for a new identity. It’s a chance to create a loving family to compensate for their own negative experience; to have a sense of purpose, providing a sense of satisfaction (and better than a ‘dead-end’ job) The majority had significant experience with babies before they became pregnant; some speak of ‘getting it out of the way’, to allow them to have a good youthful relationship with their child while still being young enough to enjoy the remainder of their own life Many report that, as expected, their life had improved as a result, compared to how it would have been otherwise. Some of those improvements were unforeseen eg better housing/finances (claimed not to be a primary motivation), increased confidence, closer family relationships. For a minority, particularly single mums without support, expectations were not fulfilled due to increased financial worries, poor housing, isolation from friends and the hard work of bringing up a child For young fathers, many reasons for ‘planning’ a child are similar to those given by young mums. However, their input and decision-making role in the planning process is notably less, and they are more likely to regret their decision. Source: ‘Planned’ Teenage Pregnancy: perspectives of young parents from disadvantaged backgrounds, JRF Jun06 (51 individual interviews with young parents or parents-to-be ie 19 or under prior to the pregnancy, of which 41 were female)

5. Sexual behaviour in seaside (and rural) areas In seaside resorts, there is an increased likelihood of young people engaging in early sexual activity and unprotected sex, due to: - the hedonistic, ‘carnivalised’ leisure and entertainment environment, capitalising on attractions of ‘sun, sea, sand and (casual) sex’ and leading to a suspension of reality and encouragement of risk-taking - easy access to alcohol - transient populations of both workers and tourists In surrounding rural areas (in particular, more remote locations), this vulnerability is compounded by: - absence of information and resources, or inaccessability of those that do exist, both in terms of transport (with young people dependent on their parents) and/or opening hours - high visibility of social networks, and limited choice of professionals (often known to them and their families) and consequent threat to confidentiality Schools can play a key role in brokering access to services Source: Living on the Edge: sexual behaviour and young parenthood in rural and seaside areas, Teenage Pregnancy Unit, DH, Jun04 (68 discussion groups with 12-17yr old school-children; 80 individual interviews with professionals, young parents & transient workers. 3 seaside resorts and surrounding rural areas in E Midlands, NW & SE. 2001-3)

6. School-children in Coastal areas of N Yorkshire: attitudes to sexual health (and alcohol) In Year 8 & 10 combined: 22% (19%) say parents are main source of info about sex; 27% (30%) say school lessons 11% (13%) believe there is a specialist service for young people available locally 40% (41%) say they know where they can get condoms free of charge In Year 10 only: 61% (66%) say they have not had a sexual relationship 10% (8%) say they are currently in a relationship and thinking about sex 17% (15%)say they have had a sexual relationship in the past 11% (10%) say they are currently in a sexual relationship Of the 28% (25%) who have had sex 66% (65%) say they always used protection/contraception, 7% (7%) are not sure 25% (30%) say they have taken risks with sex after drinking alcohol or drug use, 13% (13%) are not sure (34% yes & 11% not sure for NY females) In Year 8 & 10 combined: 34% (35%) say they had at least one alcoholic drink in the week before the survey (45% for Y10 in NY) Of those, 24% (21%) say they drank over 14units (weekly limit for adult females) 4% (3%) say they bought alcohol from an off-licence Source: Health Related Behaviour Survey 2008 as summarised in Every Child Matters in Coast, and Every Child Matters in North Yorkshire, NYY (% relate to Coast, with figures for total NY in brackets)