PREVALENCE OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY IN U.K

Prevalence of Adolescent pregnancy in U.K



Prevalence of Adolescent Pregnancy in U.K. - A Systematic Review

Adolescent Pregnancy is a pressing issue in the United Kingdom according to available studies. This study aims to investigate the evidence regarding the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in the United Kingdom and to analyse the risk factors associated it.

Papers on Pregnancy among adolescents were retrieved by systematically searching Pro Quest (Health and medicine), EBSCO Science Direct databases (2000 to 2010). All retrieved titles, abstracts and full-text articles were screened to identify prevalence with or without risk factors associated with Adolescent Pregnancy. Data extraction was primarily concerned with outcome variables of the research questions of this review. The quality assessment exercise shows an increment in adolescent pregnancy over the years that have led to adverse effects on the health of such an age group.

Twenty two papers from four countries were included for this review. The findings of the reviewed studies suggested an increase prevalence of adolescent pregnancy up to 47.1% in the United Kingdom.

Discussion

Timely and effective public health policies and awareness campaigns are necessary to control the pregnancy among adolescents in the United Kingdom

Key words

Pregnancy, Adolescents, United Kingdom, Prevalence, Risk Factors

Introduction

Adolescent Pregnancy and early motherhood are issues that are associated with poor physical and mental health, poor educational achievement, social isolation and other related factors. The U.K. has reported to have highest percentage of adolescent pregnancy in the Europe according to reports by UNICEF. In the recent years from 2000 onwards, pregnancy among adolescents has been increased that has led to many problems especially increased mortality rates among women. Adolescence is an age where the young minds commit serious problems without thinking twice. It is only afterwards that they find they are in extreme trouble (Nitz, 1999, 257-63). Adolescents may lack an access to, conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be too embarrassed to seek information and guidance on topics like these. Contraception for teenagers is a challenge to the doctors who are still concerned about its growingly adverse effects not only to the parents but on the child too.

The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS) was established by the government of the U.K. to reduce the pregnancy rates among children below the age of 18 years by the year 2010. Pregnancy rates among adolescent women rose to 41.7 per 1000 women in the year 2007. This led to increased concern about the issue among the officials and public.

This systematic review aims to study the available evidences of adolescent pregnancy among the youth in the United Kingdom and study its effects on the general health of the adolescents in terms of prevalence of pregnancy related issues.

A systematic review can be defined as the rigorous search, selection, appraisal, synthesis and summary of the findings of primary research in order to answer a specific question. It lays out the procedures that are essential to solve our research problems (Shera, 1999, 206).

Review question

What is the available evidence regarding the prevalence of Adolescent ...