Teen pregnancy rate lowest since 1969

wotsthat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17190185

The teen pregnancy rate in England and Wales has reached its lowest since 1969, new data shows.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show conceptions in under-18s fell to 34,633 in 2010 compared with 38,259 in 2009, a drop of 9.5%.

Pregnancies in under-16s also went down - by 6.8% to 6,674 in total from 7,158 the previous year.

A 43 year low in the number of teenage pregnancies.

I don't expect it'll change the views of those who like to lay the blame for everything at the door of the "baby factories", "those paid to breed" or, just yesterday "lazy single mothers".

Jimmy_31

wotsthat wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17190185



A 43 year low in the number of teenage pregnancies.

I don't expect it'll change the views of those who like to lay the blame for everything at the door of the "baby factories", "those paid to breed" or, just yesterday "lazy single mothers".

The teenage mothers around here are now wise to the fact that they have no chance of getting a free council house for life as there are none left. Still some getting pregnant though whilst still at school.

Lazy single mothers do exist you know.

Plenty of knob ed saturday fathers about as well.

wotsthat

Jimmy_31 wrote: »

The teenage mothers around here are now wise to the fact that they have no chance of getting a free council house for life as there are none left. Still some getting pregnant though whilst still at school.

Yes some will be getting pregnant at school and others before the age of 20. The figures don't dispute that but they show that the numbers are the lowest they've ever been at any point during your lifetime.

Surely they don't need a council house around your way - can't they just buy a house with their pocket money?

lostinrates

A 43 year low in teebn pregnancies has to be excellent news for girls and young men, but most especially girls, who might otherwise have been mothers, and for our society. It is nice top hear something overwhelmingly good. There are some very excellent young mothers, who do a great job, but its nice that girls are taking more control and choice and choosing to have a little enjoying adult life first.

Now, if we could also arrange that women can afford to have children while still at their peak of fertility and Ovum health that would also be wonderful news.

Jimmy_31

wotsthat wrote: »

Yes some will be getting pregnant at school and others before the age of 20. The figures don't dispute that but they show that the numbers are the lowest they've ever been at any point during your lifetime.

Surely they don't need a council house around your way - can't they just buy a house with their pocket money?

Yes i know the numbers are now smaller.

Im putting it down to the fact that they now do not automatically get a free council house.

I live near and work in lots of council properties and i am seeing more and more young single mums staying at their mums free council house because the waiting lists are so long.

Its been a talking point on site for quite a while now because the last generation of lazy single mums are now paying the price for setting a 5hit example to their child.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Yes it is good news and I'm sure the Daily Wail will report it tomorrow.

My home county of Dorset allegedly used to be the teen pregnancy capital of Europe. Now what are we supposed to be famous for, eh?

Pennywise

I wonder how much of the rise in the 30+ and 40+ age group is due to benefit claimants suddenly realising that the gravy train stops when their youngest child becomes an adult? I know far too many lifestyle claimants who've had another child in the late 30s or early 40s after a gap of 15 years or so when they realised that the end of the cushy lifestyle was approaching. Pop another out and their benefits are preserved for another 18 years taking them well into their 50's - not far away from "retirement"!

wotsthat

Jimmy_31 wrote: »

Im putting it down to the fact that they now do not automatically get a free council house.

More likely improved sex education, better contraception, and better employment and further/ higher educational opportunities.

Girls have higher aspirations these days than simply getting a council house and spending their lives on the edge of poverty. I hope so anyway.

freddiesmum09

Jimmy_31 wrote: »

Yes i know the numbers are now smaller.

Im putting it down to the fact that they now do not automatically get a free council house.

I live near and work in lots of council properties and i am seeing more and more young single mums staying at their mums free council house because the waiting lists are so long.

Its been a talking point on site for quite a while now because the last generation of lazy single mums are now paying the price for setting a 5hit example to their child.

Are you completley deluded? Council houses arent 'free'
You pay reduced rent (around 1/2 of the market price)
We pay £400 PCM and my OH pays that out of his wages - we dont get housing benefit. And we struggle to pay our bills like 'everyone else'. By no means are we rolling in it in a free council house. Unfortunatley this country is suffering a housing shortage - there are just not enough homes for the amount of people living here - hense it is very very hard to rent in the private sector in many affulent areas of the country. Letting agents/private landlords can be fussy about who they do/don't want to rent to as there is such big demand, hense we ended up homeless living with my FIL in a 1 bed flat for 6months (3 adults and 2 children (our DS and FIL's DS) in a 1 bed flat)
We eventually got housed by the council as my OH's mental health was suffering quite badly and he was close to having to give up work. We are very lucky to have this place and I never take it for granted.
Please don't think teen mums get it easy. I was 18 when I had my son and it was far from an easy ride. It still isn't and annoys me when uneducated people tar all teen mums with the same brush. I had to put up a lot of my dreams and aspirations on hold to look after my son, we don't all set out to 'get pregnant' as you suggest.

Oh and to add to the original artice, it is great news that teen pregnancy rates are falling - having a baby in your teens isn't much fun (although I love my DS very much)

Graham_Devon

Funnily enough I remember a jibe when the coalition took hold that teenage pregnancies would now fall. I didn't think much of it, but how uncanny!

Jimmy_31

wotsthat wrote: »

More likely improved sex education, better contraception, and better employment and further/ higher educational opportunities.

Girls have higher aspirations these days than simply getting a council house and spending their lives on the edge of poverty. I hope so anyway.

You obviously do not live on the same estate as me.

Yeah im noticing the girls around here have been getting higher aspirations over the last few years.

Either that or somebodys knocked a lorry full of pyjamas off.