Teenage conceptions, abortions, and births in England, 1994-2003, and the national teenage pregnancy strategy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to quantify the change in the number of conceptions and abortions among women younger than 18 years in England in relation to the government's national teenage pregnancy strategy. METHODS: We undertook geographic analysis of data for 148 top-tier local authority areas. The main outcomes were changes in under-18 conceptions, abortions, and births between the 5-year period before implementation of the strategy (1994-98) and the period immediately after implementation (1999-2003). FINDINGS: The number of teenage conceptions peaked in 1998, then declined after the implementation in 1999 of the teenage pregnancy strategy. Under-18 conception rates fell by an average of 2.0% (95% CI 1.8 to 2.2) per year between 1998 and 2003, below the rate needed to achieve the target of 50% reduction by 2010. The net change between 1994-98 and 1999-2003 was a fall in conceptions of 3.2% (2.6 to 3.9) or 1.4 per 1000 women aged 15-17 years, a rise in abortions of 7.5% (6.5 to 8.6) or 1.4 per 1000, and a fall in births of 10.6% (9.9 to 11.3) or 2.8 per 1000. The change in the number of conceptions was greater in deprived and more rural areas, and in those with lower educational attainment. The change was greater in areas where services and access to them were poorer, but greater where more strategy-related resources had been targeted. INTERPRETATION: The decline in under-18 conception and birth rates since 1998 and evidence that the declines have been greatest in areas receiving higher amounts of strategy-related funding provides limited evidence of the effect of England's national teenage pregnancy strategy. The full effect of local prevention will be clear only with longer observation, and substantial further progress is needed to remedy England's historically poor international position in teenage conceptions.

Home is where the hearth is: grant recipients' views of England's home energy efficiency scheme (Warm Front).

This paper reports the results of research carried out as part of the national health impact evaluation of the Warm Front Scheme, a government initiative aimed at alleviating fuel poverty in England. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in a purposive sample of 49 households which received home energy improvements under the Scheme from five urban areas (Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton). Each household had received installation, replacement or refurbishment of the heating system and, in some cases, also insulation of the cavity wall or loft or both, and draught-proofing measures. Most householders reported improved and more controllable warmth and hot water. Many also reported perceptions of improved physical health and comfort, especially of mental health and emotional well-being and, in several cases, the easing of symptoms of chronic illness. There were reports of improved family relations, an expansion of the domestic space used during cold months, greater use of kitchens and improved nutrition, increased privacy, improved social interaction, and an increase in comfort and atmosphere within the home. Greater warmth and comfort also enhanced emotional security, and recipients were more content and at ease in their homes. However there was little evidence of substantially lower heating bills. These results provide evidence that Warm Front home energy improvements are accompanied by appreciable benefits in terms of use of living space, comfort and quality of life, physical and mental well-being, although there is only limited evidence of change in health behaviour.

What impact has England's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy had on young people's knowledge of and access to contraceptive services?

PURPOSE: To describe young people's knowledge and use of contraceptive services over initial stages of England's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, and to investigate factors associated with use of different services. METHODS: A random location sample of young people aged 13-21 years (n = 8879) was interviewed in 12 waves over 2000-2004. Individual data were analysed to investigate factors associated with knowledge and use of contraceptive services and to observe trends over time. Area-level data were analyzed to explore differences in key variables. RESULTS: In all, 77% of young women and 65% of young men surveyed knew a service they could use to obtain information about sex. Amongst those who had had vaginal sexual intercourse, the most common source of contraceptive supplies was general practice for young women (54%) and commercial venues for young men (54%). Young women's use of school-based services to obtain supplies increased significantly from 15.4% in Year 1 to 24.4% in Year 4, p < .001. Young men's use of the commercial sector declined significantly over the same time period (60.3% to 50.6%, p = .002), while their use of general practice and family planning clinics increased (from 8.9% to 12.4%, p = .008, and 21.2% to 29.1%, p = .054, respectively). Use of family planning clinics and designated young people's clinics was associated with first vaginal intercourse before the 16th birthday and living in a deprived area. CONCLUSIONS: Young people's patterns of contraceptive service use have changed since implementation of the Strategy; although no increase in overall service use was observed. The contribution of school-based services needs further exploration.