Second pregnancy prevention among teenagers

Hayter, Mark; Jones, Catriona

Abstract

Practitioners’ perspectives were used to evaluate a sexual health service designed to prevent second unplanned teenage pregnancy. The service is called Preventing Second Pregnancy (P2P).

According to the Family Planning Association (FPA), the UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western Europe (FPA, 2016). One fifth of births among under 18 year olds are repeat pregnancies (Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG), 2010; Aslam et al, 2015). The use of outreach contraception and sexual health services aimed at adolescents is one way in which easier access to support and advice on sex, relationships, contraception and sexually transmitted infections is facilitated (Hadley and Evans, 2013). The responsibility for the design and implementation of such programmes rests with local authorities, but little is known about what makes them a success or failure in preventing secondary pregnancies in teenagers (Hayter et al, 2016).

Qualitative evaluation was conducted using three focus groups with nurses, midwives and health visitors involved in the referral to, and delivery of, the P2P sexual health service. Analysis was guided by Ritchie and Spencer (1994). This paper presents four characteristics emerging from the analysis that were perceived by health professionals to be important for the effectiveness of P2P.

Key findings from previous research indicates that for some young mothers, outreach contraception and sexual health services have a role in the prevention of an unplanned second pregnancy (Hayter et al, 2016). Findings from this study indicate that aspects of the P2P service that practitioners felt contributed to its effectiveness were: flexibility and responsiveness, a commitment to breaking down barriers to accessing contraception, maintaining the initial impetus, and timely service provision.

Citation

Hayter, M., & Jones, C. (2018). Second pregnancy prevention among teenagers. Community Practitioner, 44-46

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 11, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 16, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2018
• Print ISSN: 1462-2815
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: December/January
• Pages: 44-46
• Keywords: teenage pregnancy; contraception; health practitioners; sexual health; enablement
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/545165
• Publisher URL: https://www.communitypractitioner.co.uk/resources/2018/01/preventing-teenage-pregnancy-through-home-based-sexual-healthcare-qualitative