Systematic review addresses socioeconomic inequalities

We have grappled with social disadvantage and teenage pregnancy in our recent systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions to reduce the social exclusion associated with teenage pregnancy.¹ As Henderson et al postulate,² we found that programmes aiming to change life opportunities for young people have a considerable positive effect on reducing pregnancy in this group. Our meta-analysis of high quality controlled trials indicated that pregnancy rates could be reduced by 39% in young people who themselves were recipients of day care as children or received youth development programmes in American studies. However, studies of young people's views also showed important research gaps. These include the development and evaluation of policies to promote young people's involvement in schooling, further education and training, and to support families experiencing problems linked with social disadvantage and poverty.

Happiness, enjoyment of school, and ambition can all help to delay parenthood in young people. The available research evidence also points both to day care and to youth development programmes as effective and appropriate ways of supporting children and young people. These findings imply a need for further research into the socioeconomic and cultural influences that shape young people's choices about when they become parents, and what other options are open to them for a happy and satisfying life.