Improve the sexual health of young people and reduce teenage pregnancy
You can read the summary below, or access the full versions in the right-hand column.
What will be different in one year’s time?
What actions are planned over the next year?
Why does this matter?
- Teenage mothers and their children are less likely to do as well as other young people and are more likely to be living in poverty
- The health of teenage mothers and their children is likely to be poorer
- Children of teenage mothers have a 63% increased risk of being born into poverty compared to babies born to mothers in their twenties and they are more likely to have accidents and behavioural problems
- Sexual ill-health and teenage pregnancy are not equally distributed across the population. It is more likely to affect those experiencing poverty and social exclusion
- Sexually-transmitted diseases, especially chlamydia, can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Where are we now?
What the local data tells us about Nottinghamshire
Teenage pregnancy
- There were 524 under-18 conceptions in Nottinghamshire in 2007. This is equivalent to a rate of 35.3 per thousand young women. Nottinghamshire rates have decreased by 24% since 1998
- The overall rates of under-18 conceptions in Nottinghamshire are lower than rates in the East Midlands and England. The reduction in these rates is greater than the reduction in the East Midlands and England
- This improvement is promising, but there is still work to do. We need to reduce under-18 conception rates even further and more quickly to achieve the national target of a 50% reduction in the under-18 conception rate by 2010
- Despite overall improvement there are 18 target wards in Nottinghamshire with under-18 conception rates well above the national average. We also know that teenage pregnancy is more common amongst certain vulnerable groups.
Chlamydia
- Chlamydia rates are increasing nationally. This increase is greatest amongst young people aged between 15 and 24. The rates have increased by 158% since 1998
- Two out of every 25 (8%) of young people tested have Chlamydia. Two out of three of their partners are also infected.
What children, young people or families tell us
- Young people tell us that they like the opportunity to get condoms from and discuss sensitive issues with workers they know and trust. They want services that are confidential and available at a convenient time. (C card review 2008)
- In the Tellus 3 Survey of 2008 56% of pupils in Nottinghamshire said that the information and advice on sex and relationships was “good enough”. 35% said that they “need better information and advice” on sex and relationships
- Teenage parents are often reluctant to go to services that are not specifically for young people, stating that they often feel judged by older parents (Children and Young People Plan consultation 2009).
What will be different in one year’s time?
- Young people most at risk of poor sexual health will have higher aspirations and self-esteem
- More sex and relationships education will be provided in and out of schools
- More young people will access services for information and support
- There will be better access to ‘young people-friendly’ contraception and sexual health services in a range of places that young people can get to, at times that suit them
- More sexual health services will meet the ‘You’re Welcome’ young people-friendly standard
- 75% of schools will achieve National Healthy Schools Status. 100% of schools will be involved in the Healthy Schools Programme
- There will be better access to and take up of chlamydia screening by young people aged between 15 and 24
- There will be better information for children, young people, parents and carers and the people who work with them about young people’s sexual health and teenage pregnancy
- There will be more work with parents and carers to support them to talk to their children about relationships and sex
- Young people will have more places to go and positive things to do.
What actions are planned over the next year?
- We will consult with young people about sexual health services to find out what should be available, where and when
- We will increase the profile of the chlamydia screening programme through a social marketing campaign. This will include a mail shot and website information. We will increase the number of venues with trained staff providing test kits
- We will develop peer mentoring programmes for students age 16 plus, and school-aged females. These will be set up in areas where teenage pregnancy rates are still high or are not going down. (This is based on national guidance)
- We will run health promotion campaigns for young people and parents or carers. These will be about young people’s sexual health and reducing teenage pregnancy
- We will ensure that all sexual health services that we commission meet the national 'You’re Welcome' young people friendly standard
- We will involve people who use our services in the planning and delivery of sexual health work. This will include: information, campaigns, and services
- Relationships and sexual health education will be supported by policy and guidance
- We will provide a variety of support to parents. This will include healthy eating sessions and college taster sessions, some especially for teenage parents
- We will support 75% of schools to achieve and 100% of schools to be involved in the National Healthy Schools Programme.
How will we measure impact?
- NI 112 – reduction in the under-eighteen conception rate
- We will monitor the prevalence of chlamydia in under 25 year-olds when national data becomes available
- There will be increased knowledge and awareness among young people and parents or carers following programmes and campaigns.
Contact Information:
Lead Partnership Groups:
Nottinghamshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board, Sexual Health Strategic Commissioning Group
Strategic Leads:
Barbara Brady, Chair of Sexual Health Strategic Commissioning Group and Consultant in Public Health, NHS Nottinghamshire County and Bassetlaw PCT.
Rob Skelton, Chair of Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board and Service Director Inclusion and Engagement, Nottinghamshire County Council Children and Young People’s Services.
For more information about how this work is being developed contact:
Tracy Burton, Health Improvement Principal, NHS Nottinghamshire County and Bassetlaw PCT.
Tel: 0300 300 1234
Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator, Nottinghamshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership
Tel: 0115 982 3823
