Teenage Pregnancy And Young Parents - Statement By CEO Of Brook Services, UK

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Abortion
Article Date: 15 Feb 2009 - 1:00 PST

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Simon Blake, Chief Executive of Brook, said:

"Since the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched in 1998 teenage pregnancy rates have reduced by 12.6%. We must keep teenage pregnancy as a national and local priority and do more of what we know has an impact; improving access to services, good quality sex and relationships education in school and the community and supporting parents to talk to their children about relationships.

"It can be easy to concentrate on young women but young men need as much support and information. Brook works with boys and young men to improve their sexual health and is constantly striving for more innovative and effective ways of doing so."

Brook is the UK's leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has 45 years' experience of working with young people and currently has a network of more than 50 services in 18 areas of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey.

Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching around 210,000 young people every year.

http://www.brook.org.uk