Description:
The Northern
Ireland Executive in its Programme for Government under the
theme ‘Working for a healthier people’ gave
a commitment to tackling the problems associated with teenage
pregnancy. The Investing for Health strategy provides
the framework for the Government’s attack on preventable
disease, ill health and inequalities in health. It identifies
sexual health
and teenage pregnancy as important areas for action.
The aims of the strategy are to:
- facilitate a reduction in
the number of unplanned births to teenage mothers;
- minimise
the adverse consequences of those births to teenage
parents and their children.
The strategy sets the following targets:
- a reduction of 20%
in the rate of births to teenage mothers by 2007;
- a reduction
of 40% in the rate of births to teenage mothers under
17;
- 75%
of teenagers should not have experienced sexual intercourse
by the age of 16;
- 100% of teenage mothers of compulsory school
age should complete formal education.
The strategy sets out 21 actions towards an integrated
approach to tackling the issues. DHSSPS has established a strategy implementation group,
and the Health Promotion Agency is a member of this working
group.
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