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Statement on Contraception and Teenage Pregnancy

  • Last modified date:
    24 June 2008
  • Gateway reference:
    10098

2007 abortion data were published by the Department of Health on 19 June and show increases in the abortion rate for all women aged under 20, most markedly for those age under 18. These data highlight that many PCTs need to significantly improve performance for the Public Service Agreement target to reduce under 18 conceptions by 50% by 2010 to be delivered. Reducing teenage conceptions is a Tier 2 Vital Signs indicator (national priority for local action). Between the 1998 baseline year and 2006 (the latest year for which data are available), the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 13.3% and the under-16 rate has fallen by 13.0% over the same period. Within the overall reduction in all under 18 conceptions, the rate of births has fallen by 23%, whilst the rate of abortions has stayed stable. While teenage pregnancy rates are at their lowest rates for over 20 years, most areas are not on trajectory to meet their planned contributions to the PSA target.

 The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy is multi-faceted and is based on the best international evidence on what works. One of the priority actions identified in the strategy is to ensure equitable access to the full range of contraception methods and provision of high quality advice and support.  There is increasing evidence that contraception can have a significant impact on teenage conceptions:

  • around 80% of under 18 conceptions are in 16 and 17 year olds, which is the age most young people become sexually active. It is therefore very important that they have access to effective contraception to prevent pregnancy.
  • Research published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2006 found that 86% of the decline in US teenage pregnancy rates between 1995 and 2002 could be attributed to improved contraceptive use.
  • DH and DCSF have produced joint Next Steps guidance to Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities on accelerating delivery of the teenage pregnancy strategy. This highlights that provision of young people focused contraception/sexual health services, trusted by teenagers and well known by professionals working with them, was the factor most commonly cited as having the biggest impact on conception rate reductions in high performing areas.

Some methods of contraception are more effective at preventing pregnancy than others. The effectiveness of oral contraceptive pills depends on their correct and consistent use. A NICE guideline was published in 2005 which highlights that if 7% of women switched from the contraceptive pill to Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) methods (defined at the intrauterine device (IUD), hormonal injection, intrauterine system (IUS) and contraceptive implant) the NHS could save around £100 million through reducing unintended pregnancies by 73,000.

In February, the Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, announced £26.8m new funding for 08/09 from the Comprehensive Spending Review to improve access to contraception.  In 2008/9, the money will be allocated as follows:

  • £12.8million was included in Primary Care Trusts main allocations.
  • The remaining £14 million will be allocated by the Department of Health, (£10m by the Sexual Health team and £3.5m by the Children and Young People’s team to develop services in FE colleges) working with SHAs. Priorities for funding include teenage pregnancy “hotspot areas” with high and increasing rates of conceptions and areas with high abortion and repeat abortion rates. The funding can be used to ensure equitable access to LARC methods, training and workforce and improving access to contraception following abortion.
  • £500,000k will be invested nationally to begin to develop a campaign, working with the Teenage Pregnancy Unit in the Department for Children, Schools and Families to highlight contraceptive choices available to women.


Further funding will be available in 2009/10 and 2010/11. More detailed Best Practice Commissioning Guidance for Reproductive Healthcare is currently being finalised and will be published later this summer.

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