Barnet (Parliament Politics Magazine) -New figures reveal an increase in teenage pregnancies in Barnet in 2022, highlighting growing concerns over youth health and local support services.
Following a long-term reduction prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number increased for the second consecutive year in England and Wales, leading the Local Government Association to demand “renewed national action on prevention.”
48 pregnancies for women under the age of 18 were reported in Barnet in 2022, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics.
It was higher than the previous year’s 42 and 2020’s 44.
Additionally, it indicates that the area had seven adolescent pregnancies per 1,000 women under the age of 18, which was less than the average of 14 pregnancies per 1,000 in England and Wales.
After declining annually for eleven years prior to the pandemic, teenage pregnancies increased for the second consecutive year in 2022 in both countries.
In the past year, England and Wales registered 14,233 pregnancies for women under the age of 18, which is an increase of 13% from 12,576 in 2020 and 8% from 13,131 in 2021.
Teen pregnancies have surged more dramatically than the general number of pregnancies in the two countries, which has been on the rise since 2020.
Pregnancies for women of all ages totaled about 834,260 in 2022, up just 1% from 824,983 the year before and 2% from 817,515 in 2020.
The Local Government Association warned that the rising trend “signals a risk of complacency” and asked for “renewed national action on prevention,” even though the number of adolescent pregnancies is still below pre-pandemic levels.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said:
“We must now build on the achievements of the past 25 years by tackling persistent inequalities, digital exclusion, school absence and pandemic legacies.
Teenage pregnancy is not just a public health issue, it’s about safeguarding, education, and social justice.
Supporting young parents is equally vital to improving outcomes and breaking cycles of disadvantage.
We urge the government to act now, restore national leadership for local delivery and invest in prevention and early help to stop any further rise in teenage pregnancies.”
Karen Middleton, head of campaigns and policy at the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, said more focus should be paid to supporting the mental health of young mothers.
She said:
“We know that young mums are at greater risk of experiencing perinatal mental illness, yet they often face stigma and additional barriers to accessing the right support.
With recent figures showing a rise in teenage conceptions, it is vital that we ensure young parents receive timely, compassionate mental health care during and after pregnancy.”
The ONS figures show 17% (2,369) of the teenage pregnancies recorded in England and Wales in 2022 were for women aged under 16.
This included seven pregnancies for women under 16 in Barnet.
A government spokesperson said:
“The government supports local authorities and helps them address teenage pregnancy through education, advice and health services.
Our new Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance also responds to the realities facing children today, making sure that all young people understand healthy relationships and how to access sexual health and family planning clinics.”
How did Barnet’s 2022 rate compare to neighbouring boroughs?
In 2022, Barnet had a total of 48 pregnancies among those aged under 18, a small but noticeable increase from the 42 pregnancies in 2022.
Rates among neighbouring boroughs, like Brent and Newham, have historically been higher relative to Barnet, but this could reflect different socioeconomic traits. For example, Barnet has also seen a slight increase in rates when comparing data with other boroughs in Outer London.
Teen pregnancy rates remain lower than those in inner London boroughs like Hackney and Tower Hamlets, which always tends to have higher rates of pregnancies in the under-18 age cohort.
Barnet’s indicators for average income, housing affordable or difficult to afford, and levels of access to sexual health services vary across boroughs and influence the differences in levels of teenage pregnancy.