A study of the geographic variation in teenage conception rates and teenage conception outcomes in Great Britain

Clements, Stephen R (2002) A study of the geographic variation in teenage conception rates and teenage conception outcomes in Great Britain. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the factors associated with the geographic variation in teenage conception rates and outcomes in Great Britain. Sub-nationally, there is wide variation in both measures, to the extent that there is now a Government target to reduce the variation in under 18 conception rates. There has been limited research on this subject. Previous studies have typically used sample statistical techniques, regional data and have not considered a range of potential explanatory factors.

In this thesis, there is a review of evidence from other literature of potential explanatory factors for the variation in teenage conception rates and outcomes throughout Great Britain. Then multilevel statistical models are used to analyse the variation between Census wards in south and West England. The analyses are performed separately for urban and rural areas, and for different age groups of teenagers. A survey is also conducted of young people's knowledge, use and opinions of sexual health services, their sexual knowledge, sexual behaviour and opinions of sex education.

The literature reviews and the analyses confirm that socio-economic deprivation is the key factor associated with both the variation in teenage conception rates and teenage conception outcomes. However, the analyses also find evidence that the variation in both family planning, and termination, services and policies contribute too. Furthermore, the composition of the teenage population in an area can greatly affect the variation, particularly of teenage conception rates. Overall, these factors are shown to vary in their impact between urban and rural areas, and between those aged under 16 and aged 16 and over.

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