The national target to reduce health inequalities includes a target to:
reduce the under-18 conception rate by 50% by 2010 (from the 1998 baseline)
In 2006, 135 conceptions were recorded to Blackburn with Darwen women aged under 18. This represented a 28% reduction in rate, since the 1998 baseline. The local and national trend is set out in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Trend in Under 18 Conception rates, 1998-2007.
In recent years there has been an increase in the percentage of under 18 conceptions in Blackburn with Darwen leading to a termination of pregnancy. In 2006, 42% of under 18 conceptions led to a termination, compared with 47% in the country as a whole.
Locally, about 1 in 5 of under 18 conceptions occur in young women aged under 16, which is similar to other parts of the country.
Because of the small numbers, three year rolling average rates are often used when comparing areas (see Table 1 below).
Table 1. Under 18 Conception rates, 2005-07.
“Hot spot” wards in the Borough, with high rates of under 18 conceptions have been identified as Shadsworth with Whitebirk, Highercroft, Mill Hill, Earcroft and Sudell (both in Darwen).
10 out of 23 local Wards have rates amongst the highest 20% in England.
These are shown as red or orange in the map of Blackburn with Darwen below.
Why does it matter ?
Evidence suggests that teenage mothers and their children face poorer social, economic and health outcomes than their older peers.
Children of teenage mothers are more likely to be born prematurely, with low birth weight and at greater risk of infant death.
The infant mortality rate for teenage mothers is 60% higher than for older mothers.
The effect of halving the number of teenage births would by itself achieve an estimated 10% of the target reduction of infant mortality rates.
Smoking during pregnancy affects the health outcomes for babies. Teenage mothers are the most likely of all age groups to smoke in pregnancy with nearly two thirds of mothers aged under 20 smoking prior to pregnancy, and almost half during it.
Women from poorer backgrounds and from areas with higher unemployment rates are more likely to become mothers as a teenager, young women from social class V being ten times more likely to become teenage parents than those from social class I.
Teenage mothers:
Are more likely to suffer from poorer mental health in the 3 years after giving birth compared with older mothers.
Are more likely to have male partners who are poorly qualified and suffer unemployment.
Are more likely to be single parents, again at increased risk of being unemployed and economically and socially deprived. However, poor life prospects and few educational qualifications can lead some teenagers to see having children as their only option in life.
There is evidence that certain groups of young women are particularly vulnerable to becoming teenage parents. They include:
Young women in care or leaving care.
Young women not attending school, truants and young people who under perform at school.
Homeless young women.
Children of teenage mothers.
Young women involved in the youth offending system.
For more local information see Chapter 11 of the Blackburn with Darwen 2007 Annual Public Health Report.
