Ward level teenage conceptions by health board (2016)

Key Messages

Updated health board documents have been produced outlining teenage conception and abortion rates for 2011 to 2013 at ward level.  As well as the ward level rates, there are also 10 year trends at health board and local authority level.

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.

The children of teenage mothers 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.