'This extraordinary book charts the development, implementation and evaluation of the UK Government's highly successful Teenage Pregnancy Strategy for England, which reduced the under-18 pregnancy rate by well over 50%. It highlights the principles - of evidence, of partnership, and of the need for a holsitic approach - that brought about the change. And it signals the important role that Government can play in promoting young people's sexual and reproductive health. Reflecting on her own experience and the voices of the strategy's participants, Alison Hadley identifies key lessons for the future. A key resource and a compelling read. Strongly recommended to all who seek success in sexual and reproductive health.'
Peter
Aggleton,
Scientia Professor in Education and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia, and Visiting Professor, UCL Institute of Education, London'Inside find an important story of success...Teen pregnancy is influenced by social forces that shape adolescent opportunities - particularly education and employment - for a successful future and factors such as knowledge and use of contraception. Social progress in a nation is also create by enlightened political leadership and the committed leadership of individual citizens. The success of the English strategy to prevent teenage pregnancy is a testament to all of these. Alison Hadley, Venkratraman Chandra-Mouli and Roger Ingham tell an extraordinary tale of scientific understanding, visionary leadership, and long-term dedication to adolescent sexual and reproductive health. A story from which we all can learn.'
John Santelli, MD, MPH,
Professor, Population and Family Health and Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York City, USA'This book offers a valuable insight into the development and implementation of a long-term strategy to successfully address a complex public health priority. As well as documenting the important detail of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and its practical application at local level, it importantly includes the voices of those involved. This brings to life the reality of delivering the programme and illustrates the extraordinary commitment of so many people to improving young people's choices. As England continues to apply the lessons and make further progress, I am delighted the learning is being shared internationally in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.'
Duncan Selbie
, Public Health England'This book is a brilliant and accessible account of the implementation and success of the last labour government's teenage pregnancy strategy. It tells of the systematic combination of evidence-based strategy, innovation, collaboration, empathy and persistence that underpinned this striking public health achievement. The book is an inspiration for policymakers in any complex social policy field, and all those interested in prevention. Above all, as rates plateau and young parents and their children face disproportionately poor outcomes, it should serve as a call to action to government to reinvigorate the drive to address teenage pregnancy and consolidate the progress that was made.'
Moira Wallace
, Visiting Professor of Practice, Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSEPraise for the TPS"England's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: a hard-won success."
--Professor Rachel Skinner, University of Sydney in the
Lancet Comment (6 August 2016)
"The drop in teenage pregnancies is the success story of our time
." --Polly Toynbee in the
Guardian (13 December 2013)
