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Pregnancy campaign targets boys
Boys will be told to be more responsible
A government campaign to cut high rates of underage pregnancies is to target teenage boys.
The UK has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe.
Public health minister Yvette Cooper said on Wednesday that this was "totally unacceptable".
She said the government would launch a nationwide campaign to cut rates which would focus on the need for young boys to "start facing up to responsibilities."
The UK has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Europe.
Public health minister Yvette Cooper said on Wednesday that this was "totally unacceptable".
She said the government would launch a nationwide campaign to cut rates which would focus on the need for young boys to "start facing up to responsibilities."
It is the girls who are mostly left holding the baby - and we have to look at ways of making boys recognise the consequences  |
Yvette Cooper, Public Health Minister
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She said: "One of the most important things will be to focus on teenage boys because they are half the problem and half the solution.
"It is the girls who are mostly left holding the baby - and we have to look at ways of making boys recognise the consequences."
The campaign will be spearheaded by a soccer or showbusiness personality.
A network of 150 co-ordinators is being set up in each health authority to advise teenagers on prevention and how to cope with pregnancy.
Ms Cooper said: "It has been made clear to the co-ordinators they must focus on boys as much as girls. They need to be aware it is their responsibility too."
And she added it was essential to help young mothers to get back into education in order to break the cycle of dependency and social exclusion.
Experts welcome initiative
Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association (FPA), welcomed the new initiative.
She said: "Young men have been neglected in the past as sex education in schools has tended to focus on young women's issues such as menstruation, reproduction and on 'how to say no' to sex.
"Fathers in particular often find it difficult to talk to their sons about sex and emotional issues so once again young men are left with few opportunities to access accurate information or to express their thoughts and feelings."
Ms Weyman said the FPA's work with young men showed that sex and relationships education should start early before they are sexually active and should be relevant and practical.
"It should provide them with the information and services they need to access contraception, to negotiate relatonships and to make responsible decisions in their lives."
"It is the girls who are mostly left holding the baby - and we have to look at ways of making boys recognise the consequences."
The campaign will be spearheaded by a soccer or showbusiness personality.
A network of 150 co-ordinators is being set up in each health authority to advise teenagers on prevention and how to cope with pregnancy.
Ms Cooper said: "It has been made clear to the co-ordinators they must focus on boys as much as girls. They need to be aware it is their responsibility too."
And she added it was essential to help young mothers to get back into education in order to break the cycle of dependency and social exclusion.
Experts welcome initiative
Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association (FPA), welcomed the new initiative.
She said: "Young men have been neglected in the past as sex education in schools has tended to focus on young women's issues such as menstruation, reproduction and on 'how to say no' to sex.
"Fathers in particular often find it difficult to talk to their sons about sex and emotional issues so once again young men are left with few opportunities to access accurate information or to express their thoughts and feelings."
Ms Weyman said the FPA's work with young men showed that sex and relationships education should start early before they are sexually active and should be relevant and practical.
"It should provide them with the information and services they need to access contraception, to negotiate relatonships and to make responsible decisions in their lives."
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