Ward level teenage conceptions by health board (2014)

Key Messages

The Public Health Wales Observatory has released a series of health board documents outlining teenage conception and abortion rates in Wales for 2010-12.

As well as presenting an update of ward level teenage conception rates, the publication provides under 16 and under 18 conception rates for each local authority and a 10-year trend for under 18 conceptions.

Higher teenage conception rates are associated with areas of higher deprivation and areas of higher unemployment. Having a baby before the age of 16 is associated with a lack of education and training, leading to poor socio economic conditions later in life. Additionally, teenage mothers are at greater risk of suffering from mental health issues during the three years following birth as well as having a low birth weight and higher infant mortality rate, compared to older mothers.

As well as the mother experiencing poor outcomes, the children of teenage mothers also tend to experience poorer outcomes as young adults. They tend to have a poorer educational attainment, greater risk from economic inactivity and may end up as teenage mother’s themselves.

Get in touch 

We are always looking to improve on the products we produce to ensure that they are user-friendly. If you have any comments or feedback please get in touch with us by emailing:  publichealthwalesobservatory@wales.nhs.uk