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INTERNATIONAL EXPERT SUPPORTS CALLS FOR ACTION ON TEEN PREGNANCY RATES5 December, 2006 A UK expert is supporting calls from the New Zealand Family Planning Association for strong action to be taken now to reduce unplanned teen pregnancies. New Zealand has the third highest teen pregnancy rate in the developed world. Maori have the highest fertility rate in the country, followed by Pacific women and then Pakeha women. Chief Executive of the UK FPA, Anne Weyman, is in New Zealand to speak at a hearing on youth sexual and reproductive health to be held at Parliament on Monday. A teenage pregnancy strategy introduced in England seven years ago has been followed by a considerable fall in the rate of teenage motherhood. New Zealand Family Planning Executive Director Jackie Edmond says the responsibilities of early parenthood can have long-lasting effects on the socio-economic wellbeing of the women and children involved, and is calling on the Government to take action. “Unplanned teen pregnancy can result in interrupted education, reduced earning potential and reduced career prospects. As well, some teen parents are simply emotionally and socially unprepared for childrearing. “The experience in England shows that a well planned, resourced and monitored approach to teen pregnancy is effective.” Anne Weyman says the English Teenage Pregnant Strategy includes the provision of better sex and relationships education and improved access to contraception and sexual health services, encourages co-ordination between national and local sexual health agencies and social agencies, and provides better support for teenage parents and their children. An ongoing national media awareness campaign for teenagers is an integral part of the strategy, together with high-level monitoring and evaluation. “UK teen pregnancy rates are at their lowest for 20 years. Under 18 conceptions are down by 11 percent and under 16 conceptions are down by 15 percent. However, progress around the country is varied – if all local authorities had performed at the same rate as the best authorities, the decline would be 23 percent.” She says the areas with the highest reduction in conception rate started implementing the programme as soon as possible, had high level commitment and support, used a multi-agency approach that included staff training, had comprehensive sexuality education programmes in schools, and active and well resourced youth services. Jackie Edmond says New Zealand’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy says all the right things, but has no targets or indicators for DHBs or providers, and no specific funding attached. “There is a need for urgent investment in a whole-of-government approach to sexual and reproductive health. Such an investment should be targeted to those areas that are most at risk. It is the only way we are going to reduce negative outcomes such as unplanned teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and abortion.” She says the importance of comprehensive sexuality and relationship education in reducing unplanned teen pregnancy cannot be overstated. “There needs to be more open and easy discussion about the use of condoms and delaying first sex. Young people should have easy access to confidential sexual and reproductive health information and services. “Abstinence-only approaches do not work, and we need comprehensive sexuality and relationship education in schools, effective training of teachers and monitoring of the education being provided. Currently, the implementation of the sexual health curriculum is uneven and inconsistent. This is in terms of lack of agreed quality standards and monitoring processes, training of teachers, and strategies for young people in the community.” For more information contact: Jackie Edmond Ph 04 384 4349 or Sue Reid Communications Advisor, Ph 04 384 4349 ext 705 or 027 206 6462
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