Sex, Pregnancy and Parenthood for Young People who are Looked After by Local Authorities

Joined-up Working: Improving Young People's Sexual Health and Enhancing Social Inclusion?

“…For some young women, continuing a teenage pregnancy may be a deliberate decision and in some cases may offer a career move that may be preferable to other options (Phoenix 1991; Journal of Youth Studies 617 Jones & Wallace 1994). For some young people leaving care, parenthood may offer an opportunity to compensate for their own negative experiences of family life and to redress the balance (Corlyon 2004).…”

Tackling the problem of teenage pregnancy in looked‐after children: a peer mentoring approach

“…LAC and care leavers are significantly more likely than non-LAC to become pregnant and then to carry that pregnancy to term, compared with non-LAC (Craine et al 2014). Between 20% and 50% of 16-19 year olds with a background of care become parents compared with a rate of around 5% in the general population (Garnett 1992;Biehal et al 1995;Brodie et al 1997;Corlyon & McGuire 1997). A recent study conducted in Wales found a conception rate of 5.8% in LAC aged 14-17 years compared with 0.8% in non-LAC over a 14-month period in 2012-2013 (Craine et al 2014).…”

“…LAC often have to rely on their carers or professionals in their care network to provide them with accurate information, guidance and support on issues relating to sex and relationships. This in turn, depends on them having an open and trusting relationship (Corlyon & McGuire 1997), which LAC find particularly hard to establish because of past experi-ences of maltreatment, abandonment and rejection by adults (Knight et al 2006). Foster carers are also often unclear about their role in providing information on sex and relationships or find it uncomfortable to approach the topic because of personal lack of knowledge or different cultural values from the young person in their care (Knight et al 2006).…”

“…In this paper, we discuss peer mentoring as a potentially useful approach to reducing teenage pregnancy rates among looked-after children (LAC). The risk of teenage pregnancy is particularly high among LAC (Garnett 1992;Biehal et al 1995;Brodie et al 1997;Corlyon & McGuire 1997); however, there is evidence suggesting that trends showing a national decline in teenage pregnancy rates do not appear to have benefitted LAC. We propose that a peer mentoring intervention, in which older, more experienced care leavers act as mentors for younger LAC, may address some of the particular risk factors that LAC experience for teenage pregnancy.…”

Safeguarding, child protection and mental health

“…Self-harm and suicide are the tragic outcome in a few of these young people, while many more embark on substance abuse or crime, or become young teenage mothers. These outcomes are particularly common among teenagers who struggle with the demands of the education system or who are “looked after” (ie, are in public care)29; many of the latter have health problems or disabilities for which they often receive poor medical care 30. Health professionals can be instrumental in ensuring that children and young people with educational or social problems receive the help they need.…”