Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales

Abstract

This paper draws upon data from two separate studies to consider sexual health outcomes for young people in state care in Wales. Cross sectional analysis of the School Health Research Network Survey (2015) examined sexual health behaviours and outcomes of young people in foster care compared to those living in private households. The findings are contextualised with qualitative data (collected 2016) from social care professionals about their practice experiences of supporting sexual health development and seeking to prevent early pregnancy for young people in state care. Findings suggest that young people in state care in Wales experience poorer sexual health outcomes compared to those not in care. Insights from professionals suggest that whilst the state care system has the potential to identify and respond to young people's needs, its effectiveness can be compromised by issues of resources, value-based judgements related to the age at which young people could and should be sexually active, and individual choice and determinism. It is suggested that statutory monitoring of sexual health related outcomes is required, together with a review of policy and practice 'with', rather than 'for', young people in state care. Finally it is argued that increased attention on the quality as well as the quantity of relationships young people in state care have with carers and professionals may provide a simple but powerful policy approach in continued efforts to secure parity in respect of sexual health and development. review]. At the time of the 2015 survey, network schools represented just over half (N=113; 53%) of all secondary schools in Wales (N=212), with representation in all 22 local authority areas. Schools were recruited to the network through three mechanisms. Firstly, those participating in the Welsh Health Behaviour in School-aged

The Children of Looked After Children

“…Several academic journal articles have been published over the course of the research (Roberts 2017(Roberts , 2019Roberts et al 2017Roberts et al , 2018Roberts et al , 2019. In the hope of making the research fi ndings accessible to as wide an audience as possible, some of this material is presented again, along with new and unseen data.…”

“…In addition, parents may also apportion blame to themselves, wrestling with regret and burdened by failures to be better and do better for their children. While the support needs of parents who have experienced the removal of a child have recently gained attention (Neil 2006 ;Fidler 2018 ;Hinton 2018 ;Morriss 2018 ) and resulted in the development of valuable support services (Lewis-Brooke et al 2017;McCracken et al 2017 ;Roberts et al 2018 ), parents in the Voices study were typically off ered minimal support in reconciling past events or in attempts to move towards more positive futures. Rather, parents were left to manage their feelings and situations, often with limited supportive options and vulnerable to destructive infl uences and behaviours.…”

“…Tables 2.1 and 2.2 were originally published in Roberts, L., Long, S., Young, H., Hewitt, G., Murphy, S. and Moore, G. (2018) 'Sexual health development for young people in state care: cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales', Children and Youth Services Review , 89: 281-8.…”

The Children of Looked After Children

“…In addition, parents may also apportion blame to themselves, wrestling with regret and burdened by failures to be better and do better for their children. While the support needs of parents who have experienced the removal of a child have recently gained attention (Neil 2006 ;Fidler 2018 ;Hinton 2018 ;Morriss 2018 ) and resulted in the development of valuable support services (Lewis-Brooke et al 2017;McCracken et al 2017 ;Roberts et al 2018 ), parents in the Voices study were typically off ered minimal support in reconciling past events or in attempts to move towards more positive futures. Rather, parents were left to manage their feelings and situations, often with limited supportive options and vulnerable to destructive infl uences and behaviours.…”