It is the first cross Government Strategy to address Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood. The UK's teenage birth rates are more than twice as high as Germany, three times as high as France and five times higher than the Netherlands.
The Strategy was launched by the Prime Minister in 1999 and has two key goals: to halve the under 18 conception rate and establish a firm downward trend in the under 16 conception rate by 2010; and to increase to 60% the proportion of 16-19 year old mothers in education, training and employment by 2010, to reduce the long term risk of social exclusion. The reduction goal is a joint Public Service Agreement between DfES and DH, central to the Change for Children Programme and Public Health White Paper.
The Strategy draws on national, regional and local research evidence which has resulted in a multi-faceted approach that includes helping young people resist pressure to have early sex through improved sex and relationship education and supporting parents in talking to their children about these issues; increasing uptake of contraceptive advice by sexually active teenagers; and supporting young parents to improve the health and social outcomes for them and their children.
