YES - Nicole Chavaudra, teenage pregnancy strategy co-ordinator, Rotherham
I think the dolls can encourage teenage pregnancies if they are not used properly. Used in isolation they can have a negative impact, but they are a good tool as part of a larger programme of sex education. Some young people enjoy the attention of others toward the baby but they need a full understanding of the implications of pregnancy as well. Guidance from the Teenage Pregnancy Unit urges caution in the use of the dolls.
NO - Karleen O'Sullivan, project co-ordinator, Reality!
I don't think the electronic babies encourage teenage pregnancy at all. When we have used Reality! babies, young people have told us that they never realised the babies were such hard work. They have said that they thought they were cute, but that doesn't mean they wanted one. No-one has said they wanted a baby after the project.
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