A survey found that only 55 per cent of young people said they had been taught about teenage pregnancy at school. Only 49 per cent of respondents knew where their local sexual health clinic was.
Source: Sex and Relationships Education: Are you getting it?, UK Youth Parliament (020 7843 6310)
Links: Report | UKYP press release | NCB press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2007-Jul
A seminar report (by an official advisory body) said that a cross-governmental national strategy was needed to tackle drugs, alcohol misuse, and risky sexual behaviour by young people. In order to ensure that the strategy met young people?s needs, young people themselves should have a central role in the strategy?s development.
Source: Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People: A review of the impact drugs and alcohol have on young people?s sexual behaviour, Independent Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV (Sexual_Health_IAG@dh.gsi.gov.uk)
Links: Report | IAG press release | FPA press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
The education inspectorate in Wales said that schools and their wider communities needed to do more to teach young people about the moral and emotional aspects of sex and relationships.
Source: Sex and Relationships Guidance, HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales (029 2044 6446)
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2007-Mar
A study in Scotland examined children's and young people's views, concerns, and experiences regarding their sexual health and well-being. Concerns were often interwoven with experiences and relationships with peers and partners, normative values within the peer group, and lay communication about sexual issues within peer settings. Specific attention was required to challenge the stigmas that threatened young people's sexual health and wellbeing, such as that surrounding homosexuality.
Source: Kathryn Backett-Milburn et al., Children and Young People's Concerns about Their Sexual Health and Well-Being, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Mar
An article said that existing strategies for dealing with problems of substance misuse and teenage pregnancy, such as focusing on sexual risk and attitudes to drugs, had 'only limited benefits'. Improving the ethos of schools, raising students' self-esteem, and creating better teacher-pupil relationships might be more effective.
Source: Chris Bonell, Tony Fletcher and Jim McCambridge, 'Improving school ethos may reduce substance misuse and teenage pregnancy', British Medical Journal, 24 March 2007
Links: Abstract | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Mar
A Member of Parliament introduced a Bill designed to give parents a legal right to know if their child sought advice from their family doctor on contraception and abortion matters. MPs voted to reject the Bill by 159 to 87.
Source: Contraception and Abortion (Parental Information) Bill, Angela Watkinson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 14 March 2006, columns 290-295, TSO
Links: Hansard | FPA press release | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Mar
A report said that money intended for sexual health initiatives was being diverted for other purposes by primary care trusts.
Source: Disturbing Symptoms: How primary care trusts managed sexual health and HIV in 2006 and how specialist clinicians viewed their progress, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330) and others
Links: Report | THT press release | NHS Confederation press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Feb
An article said that the varied nature of teenagers' sexual experiences meant that sex education should not be taught using one standard model. Lessons need to be tailored towards pupils' experiences rather than offering whole-class discussion.
Source: Louise Wallace, 'Informing school sex education using the stages of change construct: sexual behaviour and attitudes towards sexual activity and condom use of children aged 13?16 in England', Journal of Health Psychology, Volume 12 Number 1
Links: Abstract | ATL press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Feb
An article reported a study which found that a specially enhanced sex education programme (piloted in the east of Scotland) did not reduce conceptions or terminations by age 20 compared with conventional provision. The programme included a 5-day training programme for teachers.
Source: Marion Henderson et al., 'Impact of a theoretically based sex education programme (SHARE) delivered by teachers on NHS registered conceptions and terminations: final results of cluster randomised trial', British Medical Journal, 20 January 2007
Links: Abridged version | Abstract | MRC press release
Date: 2007-Jan