Teenage Pregnancy among LAYP & Care Leavers in Fife (Version 1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Teenage Pregnancy among Looked After Young People (LAYP) and Care Leavers in Fife: a data linkage study
IRAS ID
141029
Contact name
Laura Hay
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of St Andrews
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 21 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Looked After Young People (i.e. young people in the care of the Local Authority) usually ‘age out’ of the care system between age 16 and 18. The transition to adulthood can be a challenging time.
LAYP and care leavers are thought to be at increased risk of teenage pregnancy. While teenage parenthood can be a positive experience for many young people, it is also associated with a range of potentially negative outcomes for both mother and baby. Teenage parenthood can be particularly challenging for LAYP and care leavers and it is important they receive appropriate support.
Although they are thought to be at increased risk of teenage pregnancy, teenage pregnancy rates among LAYP and care leavers in Fife are not currently known and cannot be accurately deduced from the current literature. This study aims to determine teenage pregnancy rates and outcomes among LAYP and care leavers in Fife.
The study will link social care data for children looked after by Fife Council between October 1991 and March 2015 with NHS maternity data to identify teenage pregnancy rates and outcomes among LAYP and care leavers in Fife. This will be compared with teenage pregnancy rates and outcomes for both the general population and a group of non-looked after peers from a similar socioeconomic background.
The study will use data linkage techniques to link existing sources of routine data. No intervention is involved.
The findings will be used by NHS Fife and its partners to develop services which better meet the needs of LAYP and care leavers in Fife.
The study is being undertaken by the University of St Andrews, in partnership with NHS Fife. It is funded by the University of St Andrews, NHS Fife and the Scottish Government.
Summary of Results
The study looked at whether teenage pregnancy is more common among care experienced young people (CEYP) in Fife than their non-care experienced peers from a similar socioeconomic background. CEYP are thought to be at increased risk of experiencing teenage pregnancy but little is known about teenage pregnancy rates among CEYP in Scotland.
Teenage parenthood can be a very positive experience for many young people. However, it is also associated with a range of short and long-term negative outcomes for both mother and baby. The needs and experiences of CEYP vary but CEYP may face additional challenges as young parents and be more susceptible to the adverse outcomes and socioeconomic disadvantage associated with teenage pregnancy.
Corporate parents have an important role to play in supporting care experienced young parents, as well as empowering CEYP to prevent unwanted teenage pregnancy. However, despite its importance, little is known about teenage pregnancy rates among CEYP in Scotland. This study was therefore undertaken to provide estimates of teenage pregnancy among CEYP in Fife, to help corporate parents better understand the teenage pregnancy related needs of CEYP.
The study used data linkage techniques to link social care data for females looked after by Fife Council between October 1991 and March 2015 with NHS data to identify teenage pregnancy outcomes for CEYP in Fife. This was then compared with teenage pregnancy outcomes for a group of non-care experienced peers from a similar socioeconomic background.
The study found that CEYP were twice as likely to experience a live birth before age 20 and 1.3 times more likely to experience a termination of pregnancy before age 20 than their non-care experienced but similarly deprived peers. The findings suggest that CEYP are likely to have a greater need than their non-care experienced peers for support in preventing unwanted teenage pregnancy and as young parents.
The findings will be used by NHS Fife and its corporate parent partners to better meet the needs of CEYP. Given the lack of data on teenage pregnancy rates among CEYP in Scotland more generally, the study’s findings may also be of interest to other health board and local authority areas in Scotland.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0108
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion