21/11/2006

Sex education has 'limited impact' on teen pregnancies

Sex education has little impact on reducing the number of teen pregnancies, a study has revealed.

A study by the Medical Research Council study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at the effect of an enhanced sex education programme, which is known as Share.

Share uses interactive videos and role-play and involves teachers training children in skills to help them negotiate sexual encounters, handle condoms and access services providing help and advice.

However, the study found that although Share had a positive impact on sexual health knowledge and quality of relationships, it was no more effective at reducing pregnancy and abortion rates among teenage girls than conventional sex education.

The authors of the report said that other sexual health strategies were urgently needed in order to reduce the teenage pregnancy rate in the UK.

(KMcA)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

25 February 2015
Teenage Pregnancies At Their Lowest Since Records Began
Teenage pregnancies in England and Wales are at their lowest since records began in 1969, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed. The figures show that pregnancies amongst under 18s is currently 24.5 per one thousand women, down from 27.9 in the previous year.
08 July 2009
Youth Programme Pilot 'Did Not Reduce Teenage Pregnancies'
A government-backed pilot scheme to help cut pregnancies among teenagers at risk has been abandoned as it failed to have any significant impact. An independent review published today by the bmj.com was commissioned by the Department of Health to examine the £5.9m Young People’s Development Programme (YPDP).
26 February 2009
Rise In Teenage Pregnancies, Figures Show
The number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales has risen by 6.4% in one year, according to new figures released today. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the teen pregnancy rate was 42.6 girls per 1,000, from January to March 2007, while it was 42.7 for the period April to June.
03 September 2008
Fertility Clinics Urged To Use Single Embryos To Cut Multiple Pregnancies
Single embryos for women younger than 37 to cut the rate of multiple pregnancies should be used by fertility clinics experts have said.
16 September 2005
Women warned of risks of late pregnancies
Women who delay having children until their late-thirties are storing up health risks for both themselves and their babies, experts have warned.