Sex under 16 (Download Only) Published: 2000

Teenage pregnancy is widely perceived as a social problem in Britain, and its prominent position on the political agenda is reflected in the Social Exclusion Unit's (SEU) report Teenage Pregnancy of June 1999, and the subsequent implementation of a national strategy to halve the number of conceptions to under eighteens by 2010.

A self completion survey was developed from a pilot scheme carried out within Bedfordshire UK between September and November 1999. The pilot questionnaire was completed by 95 respondents within this phase. The results from the pilot scheme informed the basis for the closed questions in the final questionnaire. Participants in the main study were recruited from 21 schools across the UK including some of the most deprived areas within the country, this comprised of 2,250 respondents aged between 13-15 years (school years 9 and 10).

The report is quite straightforward in noting that the data do not suggest that sex education is very successful in delaying sexual activity or preventing pregnancy. A rethink is called for, emphasising the family context most appropriate for sexual activity. In other words, it is not sex education in principle which is wrong but the contingent message the present version carries and the people who are doing the job.

The report concludes that parental care and discipline can help a lot. Two parents are usually better than one. Indeed, one of the most striking findings of Dr Hill's research is that children who are sexually active are twice as likely to be from broken homes (p. 46).

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Sex under 16 (Hard Copy) Published: 2000 £10.00