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COMPLETED

Poverty, disadvantage and intentional teenage pregnancy

Background

There is strong evidence to support the link between poverty, disadvantage (PAD) and teenage pregnancy (TP). Research into TP is likely to have particular relevance to young people facing PAD. However, less research has explored how PAD may increase the likelihood of TP, for example, in influencing decision-making in young people. More specifically, there is a lack of research in to how PAD may affect their decisions to ‘plan’ a pregnancy. Through a grant from JRF, TSA completed a study looking at this important issue.

The Project

The project had 4 main aims:

• To explore & identify how PAD influence teenagers’
     decisions to ‘plan’ a pregnancy.
• To identify their most pressing support needs.
• To challenge existing stereotypes and the associated
     policy & practice emphasis towards ‘unplanned’ TP.
• To enable the perceptions & experiences of those who
     ‘planned’ their pregnancy to inform the development of
     educational materials.

Young men & women were selected purposively as those who are facing PAD (based on geographical location), under 18 years old, pregnant (or partner of) or a parent of a child less than 6 months old, & pregnant intentionally. The London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), by Barrett (2004) was used to determine the degree of ‘planning’. 2 focus group discussions with young people were held, & 51 in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted (41 mums and mums-to-be & 10 dads). Young people were recruited from young parents groups in areas of PAD, in both rural & urban areas in the north & south of England.

Findings

Planning took many different forms, with varying degrees of partner involvement. Reasons were grouped in to two main themes; childhood and background factors (desire for more stability, and negative experiences of school & education, and social & family norms),individual ‘needs’ and preferences for ‘planned ’pregnancy (‘need’ for an alternative life course, and positive preferences for parenthood). Only a minority reported any ‘regret’. Implications for policy & practice were suggested.

Timetable and Staffing

The project took place over 17 months from May 1st 2004. Dr Lester Coleman was the Project Manager and Suzanne Cater was the Research Officer. The report was completed in 2006.

More information:
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September 2006