Since the introduction of the Government’s national ten-year Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in 1999, teenage pregnancy rates throughout Great Britain have been showing a slow but generally consistent decline, although the rate of decline appears to be flattening out.1-3

The trend is similar for the under 16 age group. 1-3

It is difficult to compare the Northern Ireland figures since they are compiled on a totally different basis.4 However, despite a steady drop in the number of women under 20 giving birth, as a percentage of all women aged 15-19, from 1998 to 2001, the decline has since stopped.4

It may be significant that over the period 2001–2004, although most young people used contraception when first having intercourse (84% of women and 83% of men), the numbers using protection during the previous four weeks have declined, as have those getting contraceptive advice prior to first intercourse.5