FSRH statement: ONS releases quarterly figures (April-June 2019) on teenage pregnancy rates

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released quarterly figures on under-18 conception rates for women in England and Wales. Compared to Q2 2018, teenage pregnancy rates have fallen by 6%.

The rate of teenage pregnancies for April-June 2019 stands at 15.7 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17, whilst it was 16.7 per 1,000 in the same period in 2018. All regions have seen a decline in rates, notably the North East.

Dr Asha Kasliwal, President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said:

“We welcome the ONS quarterly statistics on under-18 conceptions, which show a decline in teenage pregnancies across England and Wales.

“Despite the good quarterly outlook, we cannot afford to be complacent. Starting this month, all secondary schools in England will be required to deliver statutory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). RSE is key to enhance the sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing of young people, including improving uptake of contraception, but this can only become a reality if schools are effectively supported to deliver high-quality RSE.

“The Department for Education should ensure teachers are able to access a national source of medically accurate, evidence-based information on Sexual and Reproductive Health, such as the FSRH and RCOG Abortion Care Factsheet, a free resource with factual information on abortion care.

“We also call on the Department for Education to include RSE in routine Ofsted inspections from 2020 to ensure we have an accurate understanding of the quality of RSE provision and remaining challenges as more schools start to implement it.”

Ends

For further information please contact Camila Azevedo, FSRH External Affairs Manager, at cazevedo@fsrh.org / 02037945309

Notes to editors

• The ONS quarterly figures on under-18 conception rates for women in England and Wales Q2 2019 can be found here.
• The joint FSRH-RCOG factsheet on abortion care is a free resource to support teachers with Relationships and Sex Education lessons in secondary schools in the UK. It aims to ensure that professionals involved in educating young people about pregnancy choices have a factually accurate, unbiased and evidence-based source of information about abortion care in the UK. It counters myths such as that abortion causes infertility, breast cancer and mental illness. The FSRH-RCOG abortion leaflet is officially endorsed by PHE, Sex Education Forum and PSHE Association.
• The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.