Wigan remains committed to strong partnership working to reduce teenage pregnancies.Reducing teenage pregnancy is central to work to prevent health inequalities, child poverty and social exclusion, but it is a complex issue which takes long term commitment to resolve.
The vast majority of teenage pregnancies are unplanned and almost 50% end in abortion.
Young Parents and their children are much more likely to suffer problems with their health, finances, education and social integration. The children of teenage mothers are also more likely to become young parents themselves.
The local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy has two strands:
1. Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy - aims to provide young people with comprehensive information, advice and support from parent, school and other professionals, alongside accessible young people friendly Contraception and Sexual Health Services, such as Brook.
The approach adopted in Wigan and underpinning all of our teenage pregnancy prevention work is to make sure that young people have both the means and the motivation to avoid unwanted sexual experiences, to practice safer sex and to make the conscious choice to put off parenthood until later in life.
2. Support of Teenage Parents - to help them and their children live healthy, happy lives and for young parents to engage in education, training or employment to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions and gain economic independence.
