SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN TEEN PREGNANCIES OVER LAST 20 YEARS The rate of teenage pregnancies in Ireland has dropped significantly over the past 20 years, a new report from the Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP), HSE Health and Wellbeing has revealed.
‘I
nformation Summary on Teenage Pregnancy in Ireland 2000 – 2020’ (January 2022) highlights a decrease in the total fertility rate in European countries over the past four decades, with women older when they first give birth, and fewer births among teenagers. While teenage birth may not be negatively experienced by every person, women and people who experience teenage pregnancy may be more likely to experience impediments to continuing education and lower incomes later in life. • In 2000, there were 19.2 per 1,000 teenage births in Ireland. By 2020 this had decreased to 5.2 per 1,000 • There has been a 73% decrease in the number of births to teenager mothers from 2000-2020 • Most teenage births occur in people aged between 17 and 19 years of age. In 2020, births to mothers aged between 17 and 19 accounted for 93% of teenage births. WHY HAVE RATES DECLINED?
1. Increased educational attainment Greater educational attainment brings a higher chance of engaging in protective health behaviour. Many young people now complete post-primary education and more are entering third-level education. Of people entering first year of postprimary education in 2014, 91.5% stayed to complete their Leaving Certificate, compared to only 78.3% 10 years previously. 2. Improved access to ‘Relationships and Sexuality Education’ (RSE) Teenagers who receive RSE are more likely to use contraception when they first have sex. The SHCPP works with the Department of Education, HSE partners, professional bodies and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to develop education resources to support RSE delivery in schools. Consistency in
FURTHER INFORMATION ‘Information Summary on Teenage Pregnancy in Ireland 2000 – 2020’ (January 2022) is available to download at https:// www.sexualwellbeing.ie/for-professionals/ research/research-summaries/
RESOURCES The HSE SHCPP offers a series of booklets both in Irish and English for parents under the title, ‘Making the ‘Big Talk’ many small talks’. These booklets seek to normalise and support parent/child conversations about
delivery of high-quality RSE is important and its delivery in primary- and post-primary education is under review. 3. Availability and uptake of contraception There is growing availability of short and long-acting reversible contraceptives, complemented further by access to emergency contraception from pharmacists without prescription. In Ireland, 80% of sexually active 17-18 year olds reported using some form of contraception. The SHCPP leads several initiatives that promote access to information and which seek to increase availability of condoms. 4. Enhanced parent and child communication There has been increased focus on the importance of parental conversations about relationships and sexuality. Parents can play protective roles in the development of children’s sexual health and well-being. In an Irish study, 45% of young people reported having discussed sex and relationships with their parents by 13, and those who talked to their parents about sex by the time they were 13, were more likely to use contraception at ages 17-18. The SHCPP has published a range of parental resources. MAINTAINING PROGRESS
These positive trends in educational attainment, lifestyle choices, sexual health communication and access to and use of contraception are testament to young people living in Ireland today, as well as their parents, carers and educators. Improvements in policy and service provision are facilitated via strong partnerships between state agencies and NGOs. Work must continue to reduce health inequity, increase availability of educational and professional opportunities for young people, encourage and facilitate frank and open conversations about relationships and sexual health, and ensure youth-friendly clinical services and contraception are accessible if needed.
relationships, sexuality and growing up; encouraging on-going communication about these issues from very early childhood through to young adulthood. The books are available to download at https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/ for-parents/resources/ Busy Bodies - a booklet in Irish and English for children on the topics of puberty and adolescence can be found here https://www. sexualwellbeing.ie/for-parents/resources/
For more information on sexual health and wellbeing, including guidance on how to start the conversation at home for parents and carers please visit https://www. sexualwellbeing.ie/for-parents/ The Healthy Sexuality and Relationship Development Toolkit to support staff working with children, young people and families can be found here https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/ for-professionals/supports/resources/
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