Does the UK government’s teenage pregnancy strategy deal with the correct risk factors? Findings from a secondary analysis of data from a randomised trial of sex education and their implications for policy
E Allen1, C Bonell2, V Strange3, A Copas1, J Stephenson1, A M Johnson1 and A Oakley3
1 Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, University College London, London, UK2 Public and Environmental Health Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK3 Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, London, UK
Background: Much of the UK government’s 1999 report on teenage pregnancy was by necessity based on rather old or non-longitudinal research.
Aim: To examine the associations between risk factors identified in the report and pregnancy at or before age 16 years among young women and partners of young men using the more recent data.
Results: The following factors were significantly associated with increased risk of pregnancy at or before age 16 years in young women: non-privately owned housing; lack of expectation of being in education at age 20 years; expectation of being a parent by age 20 years; belief that over half one’s peers are sexually active; intention to skip school; being drunk monthly or more; and ability to identify a sexual health service. Being born to a teenage mother was associated with pregnancy at borderline significance. Lack of expectation of being in education at age 20 years, belief that over half one’s peers are sexually active and being drunk monthly or more at age 13 years remained significant on adjustment for factors from other risk categories. Young women who could communicate easily with their mother or female guardian were considerably less likely to report pregnancy at or before age 16 years. This remained significant on adjustment for factors in other categories.
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