Sexuality and teenage pregnancy

For some young people it is recognised that the need for emotional belonging and love can result in many short term sexual relationships, as the individual seeks out their own sexual identity or test out new freedoms. These relationships can be emotionally challenging and break ups may require sensitive handling and reassurance.

For a minority of women there may be desire to have their own children in this age group, often predicated by the constraints or complexities of family life. Despite this desire for emotional attachment, evidence points to an emotionally traumatic experience with poor outcomes for mother and child, which would appear to be consistent with a young person still developing personal identity and status in both emotional and social aspects. A complicating factor is that this is the time of greatest fertility for both young men and women.

Significant policy drivers in the U.K. over recent years, combined with education and better access to contraception, has significantly reduced the numbers of 16 to 19 year olds becoming pregnant, but at the same time, there is still a rise in teenage pregnancy in those who are considered most vulnerable in society.

Young people who have children themselves must face the challenge of meeting their own development needs as well as meeting the needs of a baby.