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Young mothers focus of new research
Report examines experiences of mothers under 20
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson pledged to do more to support young mothers and continue to reduce the rate of unplanned teenage pregnancy in Scotland.
The Minister was speaking following the publication the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study, which showed that less than a fifth of mothers aged under 20 have qualifications at Higher level or above.
Only 17 per cent of first-time mothers surveyed aged under 20 had higher-level qualifications, compared to 50 per cent of mothers in their early twenties and 80 per cent of those aged 25 or over.
Over the last four years, rates of teenage pregnancy have seen a consistent decline in Scotland and particularly in the under 16s, which has reduced by nearly 30 per cent.
Following a visit to Kirkcaldy High School, where teachers and health professionals are delivering a relationship and sexual health education programme that has seen pregnancy rates in under 16s in the area fall by a third, Mr Matheson said:
“There is some great work already being done at a local level, such as in Kirkcaldy High School, to help teenagers foster healthier attitudes towards relationships and sexual health – and it is really encouraging to see young people responding to these efforts.
"As well as focusing on prevention of unplanned pregnancies, we need to be doing all we can to support young mothers during pregnancy and following birth. The evidence shows that these are the most vulnerable groups and are likely to face significant disadvantages both economically and educationally. It is important to have measures in place that can break this cycle of poverty and ensure that children growing up in Scotland have the best possible start in life, with access to the same opportunities across the board.
“The fact that the authors of the study suggest that widening the availability of affordable childcare would likely support younger mothers to access education or employment is significant. Yesterday, Parliament passed the Children and Young People Bill, which will deliver more funded, flexible early learning and childcare, providing at least 600 hours a year for three and four year olds and the most vulnerable 2 year olds.”
Paul Bradshaw, Senior Research Director at ScotCen, said: "What this analysis makes abundantly clear is that from the very earliest stages of pregnancy and throughout the first six years of their child's life, mothers aged under 20 are considerably more likely than older mothers to experience significant disadvantage in relation to health, income, employment and other areas of their lives and that this persistent and multiple disadvantage has an adverse impact their children's outcomes. Other analysis from the Growing Up in Scotland Study suggest that it’s not the age of the mother that drives child outcomes but the fact that younger mothers have a more challenging starting point that makes it more difficult for them to achieve the security and stability that they and their children need.
“The research also shows that young mothers have specific needs in terms of the support they require and how it should be delivered. With the right support in place, opportunities and outcomes for younger mothers and their children could be greatly improved."
Notes to editors
Background
The Growing Up in Scotland study compares the characteristics, circumstances and experiences of mothers aged under 20 with those woman who have children later in life. It examined data from two birth cohorts in order to examine the circumstances of mothers when their child is 10 months old and how these circumstances change when the child ages from two to six.
Additional key findings from the report:
- When their child was aged 10 months, 21 per cent of mothers under 20 were employed (either full-time or part-time) compared with 55 per cent of those in their early twenties and 83 per cent of those aged 25 or older.
- 72 per cent of mothers aged under 20 had a household income amongst the lowest 20% of all family incomes at 10 months (the bottom ‘quintile’). By comparison, the same was true for 40% of mothers aged 20 to 24 and just 12% of those aged 25 or older.
- 30 per cent of mothers under 20 live with the child’s biological father, compared to 89 per cent of mothers over 25.
- Mothers aged under 20 were three times more likely to smoke cigarettes than those aged 25 and over (47 per cent compared with 13 per cent).
- More positively, mothers aged under 20 were less likely to have drunk alcohol during pregnancy, more likely to have had a normal birth (without assistance or a caesarean section) and to perceive the birth as a positive experience
- However younger mothers seem more wary of seeking formal support and less sure about who to ask for advice. 42 per cent of mothers aged under 20, and 31 per cent of those aged 20-24 agreed that it was difficult to ask people for help or advice unless you know them very well compared with 19 per cent of mothers aged 25 or older.
In 2009, the Kirkcaldy area had the highest under 16 pregnancy rate in Scotland. In response to this high level of unplanned teenage pregnancies, Fife Council and NHS Fife developed a highly sophisticated programme of sex and relationships education, a contraception and pregnancy testing service in school and highly effective signposting to specialist services for young people.
The Scottish Government are due to publish a teenage pregnancy and young parent strategy next Spring.
