More time online leads to fall in teen pregnancy
LONDON: Teenage pregnancies have dropped to their lowest level since the 1960s – thanks to today’s youngsters spending more time on the internet than with each other.
The “stigma” of being a teen mom is also credited for the fall, as are the growing aspirations of girls for a good education and career.
For every 1 000 girls aged 15 to 17 there were 24.5 conceptions in 2013 – the fewest since 1969 – according to figures published yesterday.
The total number of pregnancies for this group was 24 306 – down 13 percent from 27 834 in 2012.
For 14-year-olds, there were 1 151 conceptions and for under-14s it was 227 – both also down.
Experts pointed out that this has happened without the legally enforced sex education in primary schools demanded by campaigners.
Researcher and author on the family Patricia Morgan said: “People complain that teenagers these days have no social skills. But there is little doubt that while they are spending hours playing with gadgets, they are spending less time with each other.
“The key factor is not sex education and contraception. It is also important that there is stigma against teenage mothers. Every television show about benefit recipients reinforces this.”
Sex-education and contraception programmes may have caused the fall, as well as the desire by a majority of young women to have a decent education and job.
“It is important that young women have swift access to the services and support they need to make the right decision for them,” Morgan added.
Studies have also shown that more than a quarter of under-24s are teetotal, and the number smoking cigarettes has fallen by 10 percent in a year.