Teenage Pregnancy
Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Teenage Pregnancy and Social Policy: A review of the literature
Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to review the available literature focusing on the areas of policy relating to teenage pregnancy under exploration in this thesis. Having presented the various trends in teenage pregnancy and related rates as well as associated and causal factors in the previous chapter, this chapter begins by providing further explanation as to why the three particular areas of policy chosen for exploration were sex education, sexual health and education. The remainder of this chapter then concentrates on reviewing the available literature for those three policy areas. Why sex education, sexual health and education policy?
In order to become pregnant, generally, sexual intercourse needs to have taken place and contraception to have not been used or not been used effectively or the contraceptive itself has failed. In Chapter One, the most apparent key difference between Finland and Scotland, that may go some way to explaining the differing trends in teenage pregnancy between the two countries, was that of the contraceptive use of young people.
79
Chapter 2
In order to use contraception there are at least three1 underlying factors which must be present. First, young people must have knowledge of issues relating to sex, sexuality and contraception (in particular effective use) and knowledge of where to obtain contraceptive advice and services. They must also perceive that they have ‘real’ access to the provisions of such services (including appropriately timed, located and confidential services) and finally they must be motivated enough to use contraception effectively in order to avoid pregnancy (and other negative results of unprotected sex) and parenthood.
Therefore in order to explore the extent to which these factors relate to the lives of young people in both countries, this thesis set out to explore
Chapter Two
Teenage Pregnancy and Social Policy: A review of the literature
Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to review the available literature focusing on the areas of policy relating to teenage pregnancy under exploration in this thesis. Having presented the various trends in teenage pregnancy and related rates as well as associated and causal factors in the previous chapter, this chapter begins by providing further explanation as to why the three particular areas of policy chosen for exploration were sex education, sexual health and education. The remainder of this chapter then concentrates on reviewing the available literature for those three policy areas. Why sex education, sexual health and education policy?
In order to become pregnant, generally, sexual intercourse needs to have taken place and contraception to have not been used or not been used effectively or the contraceptive itself has failed. In Chapter One, the most apparent key difference between Finland and Scotland, that may go some way to explaining the differing trends in teenage pregnancy between the two countries, was that of the contraceptive use of young people.
79
Chapter 2
In order to use contraception there are at least three1 underlying factors which must be present. First, young people must have knowledge of issues relating to sex, sexuality and contraception (in particular effective use) and knowledge of where to obtain contraceptive advice and services. They must also perceive that they have ‘real’ access to the provisions of such services (including appropriately timed, located and confidential services) and finally they must be motivated enough to use contraception effectively in order to avoid pregnancy (and other negative results of unprotected sex) and parenthood.
Therefore in order to explore the extent to which these factors relate to the lives of young people in both countries, this thesis set out to explore