Statistics show that Britain's rate of teenage pregnancy is among the highest in Europe. Here, a Children's Express team argues for better access to contraceptives as one way of tackling the problem.
| I was thinking, ‘Oh God, I’m going to be pregnant,’ while faced with pictures of Teletubbies and Barney all over the walls. |
Successful safer sex campaigns aimed at gay men put the condom at the centre of their initiatives. So why does the government's brand of 'tough love' for teenage parents - set out in the Social Exclusion Unit's report into teenage pregnancy - smack too much of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?
'It's not about promoting contraception to young people, it's about education them,' says Abdul, 14, who believes that if teenagers are going to have sex, it is better that they have cheap and easy access to condoms. "It's really hard to walk up to a chemist - it's not like shopping. If conform machines were in McDonald's toilets you wouldn't have to go past or through someone."
Claire, 16, wants to have sex. She also wants a smart set of exam results that will see her on to university and a good career. Tracking down an after school session for teenagers at her local family planning clinic was hard work. At last she could get practical advice from someone what wasn't the family doctor - and wasn't also advising her mum, Dad or other family members.
| | Cutting teen pregnancy Young people’s recommendations | | Deliver sex education through open lessons, where teenagers and children as young as 5, choose topics. Cultivate teaching that responds to current issues. | | Give young people access to a range of educators teachers, paretns, professionals (trained outsiders youll never see again!), educational drama groups, peers. | | Discuss abuse and consent in sex education classes. | | Raise the consequences of becoming pregnant dont stop at how to use contraceptives. | | Address gender issues in relation to sex and promote assertiveness. | | Equip teenagers to handle alcohol and make sensible decisions in drink-fuelled settings. | |
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But even here, things could be improved. "Clinics are so badly publicises, she says. "I walked past mine loads of times because it's just a little shop with blinds in the windows. It's trying to discourage teenage pregnancies but it's only open on a Thursday night and it rations the number of condoms it gives out. People should be given as many as they need."
Teenagers say the government is right to introduce special advisers - but making them 'pregnancy advisers' leaves it too late. "You need a health visitor or visiting doctor in school to speak to young people about sexual health generally and provide contraception ," says Jo, 18. "A total stranger who you'd never see again!" adds Naheen, 17.
When accidents do happen, existing health services aren't geared up to deal with them. "I needed the morning-after pill one Sunday and ended up in the casualty department of the hospital," relates Claire. "I had to go into the children's ward because I was under 16 and I was thinking, 'Oh God, I'm going to be pregnant," while faced with pictures of Teletubbies and Barney all over the walls."
Parents and other adults still don't like the idea that some young people have sex, despite the fact that young people's bodies are maturing faster and they are bombarded with sex - in everything from magazines to the Six O'Clock News. But if they're serious about changing Britain's dubious honour of having the highest rate of teenage pregnancy, teenagers say they have to face up to realities.
Tom, 15, concludes: "People should know what measures there are to prevent pregnancy. The government take action and have an advertising campaign to spread the word."
All names have been changed.
About the team
This article was produced by editors Rachel Bulford, 18, Daniel Blackwood and Darrell Philip, 17, Oliver Robertson and Karen Loughrey, 16, Anna Chandwani, Stephen Boyle, Lindsay Marchant and Amy Wood, 15, Ruth Sewell, 14, and reporter Kierra Box, 13. It was published in Young People Now magazine.
