Teenage Pregnancy in the UK!

[trt]

We have the highest in Eastern Europe and the Government has got it wrong again.

If you were a Minister in charge of this problem, what would you do?

[MWB]

The problem lies with the people who are getting pregnant. They must take responsibility. All have heard of contraception.

If I was minister, the babies would be taken for adoption at birth, as a matter of course.

[daffy654]

My daughters both had babies in their teens (18 and 19),I was just 19 when I had my first child.So MWB you would have had my child taken from me would you? and my children's children?

[sara3]

I don't have the answer but I think part of the problem is that most assume they will be looked after by everyone else.. they'll be housed and set up in the benefits system, and sadly, don't want much more in their lives. the grandparents probably end up doing a share of the parenting.

[123everton]

Stop the benefits unless you get married after an 18 month advertising campaign satating the changes.
This problem began in earnest in the late 80s with various well intentioned iniyiatives instigated by education professionals which made having kids whilst still a kid an advantage.
I think the answer to your question Daffy is yes that's what she's saying, I imagine the point she'd make is that the reality of having your child taken away as a matter of course would deter others from getting caught out.

[daffy654]

I was already married when my first child was born,both my daughters were/are in stable relationships at the time their children were born.Not all teenage parents are on the dole and single you know!
Judgemental bunch aren't you!


By the way trt...the UK is not in Eastern Europe.

[sara3]

daffy, I wasn't judging you or your children, but we have more teenage pregnancies than teenage marriages.

btw, I don't think we should take the babies into care, or force people into marriages they don't want!

[daffy654]

When we talk about teenage pregnancies we are talking from age 13 to 19.Most people think we mean underage pregnancies when it is mentioned.People really should stop and think about these things before spouting cr@p about taking kids from mothers at birth.

[ummmm312]

I had my first at 18 and was in a relationship with a man that had his own house and a well paid job. We split when she was 2 but I didn't need to go on benefits as he supported me until I found a job. He's always supported me and has even offered to look after my other 2 kids so I can go on holiday.

[daffy654]

MWB,was it you who posted several months ago that all children who were born disabled should be left to die?
I apologise if it wasn't but this comment of yours has triggered a memory of a thread where someone said that.

[MWB]

The question implies "unattached" pregnancies only.

That is; one night stands, casual sex & the like.

[daffy654]

"Unattached" or not,not all teenage parents are unemployed or useless.

[MWB]

The question implies unemployed & useless, then! Jeez.

And still at school.

[daffy654]

That may be in some areas EDDIE,round here you would end up in a hostel or a B&B as the waiting list for social housing is 7-10 years (we have no council houses,only housing association).

[sqad617]

Simple..........compulsory oral contraception between for all from onset of menses to 20 yrs, unless married.

Enforced by the fact that a pregnancy in that group should be given a fine.

[sophie_1003]

sqad you can't force people to take medication, and even if they were compulsory who's going to make sure that people are actually taking them?
as for the question, I don't think there is a lot that can be done, the benfits system could be changed but the fact is that it would have to be one rule for some people and a different rule for others, some teenagers will decide to have children, or decide to continue with an unexpected pregnancy because they are in a stable relationship, and others will have a baby because it is an easy way to get housing and benefits and yet more will have children because that is the thing to do, it's what their mum did and what their children will do. You cannot apply a one size fits all solution to any of these groups which is why it is such a difficult 'problem' to solve.

[jackthehat]

MWB is probably 'only having a laugh'..........!?!?!?

.........made even more amusing by the fact that she's never had children.

We need to break away from the view that a Man (for that read teenaged boy) gains respect from his peers by the number of children he can produce. We need to empower the girls to either get reliable contraception, or to be able to say 'NO', without the fear of losing face, etc.

I'm fed up of hearing about un-planned pregnancies caused because she was too embarrassed to ask him to use a condom !!

[sophie_1003]

the thing is, formal education only works up to a point, teachers alone can't change family values which, after all, are more influencing on peoples decisions than what they learn in the classroom. The powers that be look to other countries like Holland who have very low teenage pregnancies and only see the fact that they have sex education in schools very early on so assume this must be the answer when in fact the general attitude in countries like Holland is far different to the one we have here and changing peoples attitudes and opinions to something like sex is a near on impossible task.