The Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy & Action Plan 2002-07 sets a number of targets: a 20 per cent reduction in the teenage pregnancy rate; a 40 per cent reduction in under-17s falling pregnant; that all teenage mothers should complete schooling and half should go on to further education. But the one that has raised a few eyebrows says that 75 per cent of teenagers should be virgins at 16.
As the fpa (formerly the Family Planning Association) points out (see Hot Issue, opposite), such a target is not that outlandish. Currently 27 per cent of Northern Ireland teens have had sex by 16, so a 2 per cent reduction would appear to be achievable.
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