Abortion 'not an option for teenagers'

The UK has the EU's highest teenage pregnancy rate

Many teenage girls continue with unplanned pregnancies because their families and local community are opposed to abortion, a report reveals.

A lack of information and advice and the fact that many local girls choose to have their babies were found to be important factors when teenagers decided whether to have an abortion.

The study, which looked at teenage pregnancies in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, also found no evidence to suggest that girls become pregnant on purpose to secure benefit or obtain a council house.

The report, carried out on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation think tank, calls for better information, advice and support for teenage girls to help them make decisions if they become unexpectedly pregnant.

Information about abortion and early motherhood should be made more available

Sharon Tabberer, University of York

The authors of the report interviewed 41 teenage girls from Doncaster who had either continued with their pregnancy or opted for an abortion.

Doncaster is one of the most socially-deprived areas of England and has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates.

England has one of the highest pregnancy rates in Western Europe.

Almost 90,000 teenagers in England became pregnant in 1997. Some 56,000 of these girls gave birth.

The Doncaster research found that almost all of the teenagers had been shocked to discover they were pregnant.

And because it had taken them a while to discover they were pregnant, many only had a few weeks to decide whether to continue or to seek an abortion.

A decision on whether to have an abortion was heavily influenced by the girls' views and the attitudes and experiences of those around them.

'Termination not discussed'

The study found that anti-abortion views were quite prevalent and that families had generally not discussed termination as an option.

The researchers also discovered that many young fathers let their girlfriends take the decision alone or with their family.

Those who opted for an abortion knew somebody who had made a similar decision in the past or had offered them advice.

Sharon Tabberer, a research fellow at the University of York and co-author of the report, said young women needed better information on abortion.

"Our research suggests that information about abortion and early motherhood should be made more available so that young women are better informed.

'Need for counselling'

"It also identifies a need for independent counselling, advice and support for teenagers from the time they first suspect they are pregnant."

The government has introduced a number of policies aimed at reducing the number of teenage pregnancies in England.

Ms Tabberer welcomed such initiatives but added: "Continuing support should be available to pregnant teenagers whatever they decide but not least if their choice goes against expectations in the wider community."

The National Abortion Campaign said: "This study confirms the point NAC has been making all along about ensuring young women have access to accurate, non-judgmental information about their choices and the services available to them.

"We also note that abortion is mentioned in the new Department for Education and Employment sex and relationships education guidance.

"However, the Joseph Rowntree study shows that this guidance, although welcome, is insufficient, because all young women in schools need to be able to access unbiased information if they are to make informed choices about their lives."