Preparing for the reality of a relationship
SEX sells – and sexy images are used to sell everything from toothpaste to teabags, music to motors.
For young people the proliferation of such images on television and the internet and in advertising adds to the pressure to agree to sexual relationships before they feel ready.
Joanna Nichols, teenage pregnancy co-ordinator for Calderdale, said: "We are bombarded with sexual imagery to the extent that it is hard to avoid it. Sexual images are all around us and pornography is much more available than it used to be. Gone are the days when you could control it."
All of which adds to the challenges for Joanna and her team as she tries to prepare teenagers for the reality of relationships and gives them the support they need to make the right choice.
One in every 10 babies born in England is to a teenage mother but Calderdale's strategy to reduce conceptions and support young parents has resulted in a decrease of more than 19 per cent of teenage pregnancies since 1998.
"We work very hard to send out the message to young people that they have a choice about when to start sexual relationships. Peer group pressure is very persuasive and teenagers sometimes feel they should be having sex because their friends boast that they are. We have developed stategies for giving them the confidence to be able to say 'no', that they're not ready," said Joanna.
Since 2006 the NHS and Calderdale Council have worked together to identify and fill gaps in services for young people. This has resulted in improved access to contraception services, improved sex education in schools and young people delaying their first sexual relationships.
Joanna said: "We try to get across to young people what the impact could be on their lives of having sexual relationships before they are ready. And the evidence shows that it's not only girls who regret it - boys often experience a high level of regret if they get into sexual relationships too early.
"We know that one of the most frequently asked questions on Google is 'I think I'm pregnant, what can I do?' There is a tremendous amount of anxiety about it.
"It is part of my job to make sure there are good, friendly services to help young people who are thinking about having sex and to suggest answers to such questions as, 'Should I do it at all?', 'Where can we get condoms or contraception?' and 'How can I talk to my mum about it?'
"Good education is crucial and so is helping young people to make the right choices for themselves."
To help young people make the right decisions, the CHOICES programme is now in place in all Calderdale secondary schools.
(Full report in the Brighouse Echo 2/4/2009) The emphasis is on increasing awareness of sexual health and contraception, including the right to say ‘no’ to a sexual relationship, and the benefits of delaying early sex.
“It’s all about telling young people about consequences – explaining to them what could happen if they have sex too early and before they are ready,” said Joanna.
Jo Machon is the teenage pregnancy midwife for Calderdale and she works hard to ensure that the teenage mums in her care are supported through a difficult time.
“Being a teenager is hard anyway and often for the girls I see, being pregnant is just one of a whole lot of other things going on in their lives. There might be problems at home or problems with relationships and I have to reinforce the idea that what is happening to them is important and they need to look after themselves.
“Right from the start of their pregnancy they can come to me in confidence so that we talk things through and I can make sure they’re getting proper ante-natal care.”
While many of the young mums-to-be Jo meets in her job are vulnerable, she feels it is important that are supported so that they continue in full-time education and take exams if possible.
“Staying in school helps them to have a routine and look after themselves,” said Jo. “Becoming a mum is a massive change for these young people and it can be very daunting but we try to work with them and their parents and boyfriends, where possible, to ensure a happy outcome. I do believe that teenage mums are stigmatised by society unfairly. We need to find ways to help them to be teenagers and enjoy their lives as well as being good parents – and I think the majority achieve that.”
For Dr Graham Wardman, director of public health in Calderdale, reducing the number of teenage pregnancies in the area has been a key priority.
“It is about making sure young people have access to services, are able to make the right choices about their lifestyle and relationships and do not experience inequalities in health.
“We need to continue to work with and take the lead from young people if we are to make long lasting sustainable changes to the life chances of our future generations.”
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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