Risk factors identified in the UK government’s 1999 report on teenage pregnancy and comparable factors in the Randomised Intervention of Pupil Peer-Led sex Education study
Factors identified | Research cited in the government report | Comparable factor in RIPPLE study | |
---|---|---|---|
Reference | Study limitations | ||
BMRB, British Market Research Bureau; RIPPLE, Randomised Intervention of Pupil Peer-Led sex Education; STI, sexually transmitted infection. | |||
Socioeconomic status | |||
Low social class, non owner-occupier housing | Botting et al4, 1998 | Pre-1989 data | Non-privately owned housing |
Family background/relationships | |||
Children of teenage mothers | Kiernan5, 1995 | Pre-1989 data | Mother teenager when participant was born |
Poor communication with parents | Wellings et al6, 1996; Ingham and Van Zessen7, 1998 | Cross-sectional; cross-sectional | Difficult communication with mother/father, female/male guardian |
Expectations of the future/perceptions of peers | |||
Not being in education, training and work post age 16 years | Bynner and Parsons8, 1999 | Pre-1989 data | Lack of expectation of education by age 20 years |
Expectation of being parent by age 20 years | |||
Peer pressure to have sex early | Wellings et al6, 1996 | Cross- sectional | Believe half or more peers having sex |
Individual risk behaviours | |||
Low educational attainment, truancy | Include, Bynner and Parsons 9 1998; Croydon Community Trust10, 1999 | Cross-sectional | Intent to skip school |
Alcohol use | Health Education Authority/BMRB11, 1998 | Cross-sectional | Drunk monthly or more |
Sexual health knowledge | |||
Low knowledge about sex | Wellings et al6, 1996 | Cross-sectional | Low knowledge of STIs and low knowledge of timing of emergency contraceptive pill Inability to identify sexual health services |
Non-school source of information about sex | Wellings et al6, 1996 | Cross-sectional | Main source of information on sex does not include school |