Policy & Practice: Briefing - Pressure mounts to cut teenpregnancies

Didn't we all just get guidance in July? Yes, that was Teenage Pregnancy Next Steps, which set out guidance based on what the Government had gleaned about what works in cutting teenage pregnancy rates. This new document is something of an update on the original 1999 strategy on teenage pregnancy and, says young people and families minister Beverley Hughes, builds on this summer's guidance by showing how the Government will intervene to raise the performance of poorly performing authorities and increase the focus on the underlying risk factors. There is obviously some overlap between the documents.

So we do know what works then? Well, we can describe the characteristics of areas that, compared with statistically similar areas, have made the most progress. Other factors include a strong senior champion for the local strategy, availability of well-publicised young people-centred contraceptive and sexual health services, high priority for personal, social and health education in schools, targeted interventions to those most at risk, and training in sex and relationships education for all those working with vulnerable people.