Background to the Research

• This study focuses on the views and experiences of young women attending the Causeway S.A.M project.
• It also examines the views and opinions of a range of health, education, and social care professionals working at local and regional level. In 1998, in Northern Ireland there were approximately 1700 births to teenage mothers, 202 of these were to young women aged 16 or younger.
• Research has highlighted the fact that teenage parents and their children are a potentially vulnerable group and that the many of the poor outcomes experienced by this group are preventable through the right support services.
• The S.A.M project was established in 1998 to support pregnant or parenting women of compulsory school age. It provides school tuition, access to ante-natal and post natal health care, benefit and careers advice, and on-site quality child care. Key elements of the programme are the provision of social support by developing informal peer networks and providing non-judgemental support and advice.

Research Approach

• The study aimed to describe and critique current policies and practice in relation to supporting school age mothers. Qualitative interviews were carried out with as sample of young women who attended the S.A.M project and with professionals from partner agencies, local policy makers and senior civil servants.
  

Main Findings

Emerging Issues - Views of the Young Women attending the S.A.M project

• The reasons the young women gave for their pregnancy included a lack of adequate sex education, unplanned intercourse, poor knowledge and/or access to contraception, pressure from a partner to have unprotected sex and pressure from a partner to become pregnant.
• Many of the young women interviewed reported delaying telling parents about the pregnancy because of a fear of their reactions. Reactions of parents included initial shock and upset but moved to providing practical and emotional support. Many young fathers supported the pregnant young mothers throughout pregnancy and birth and continued to give support.
• The reactions of other young people at school were more negative than the reactions of teachers. Delays in disclosure related to a fear of reactions led to delays in access to relevant services.
• Many of the young mothers wanted to continue their education at their existing school. The S.A.M project helped them to make the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. Support services, both antenatal and post natal, provided in a non-judgemental way made a difference to these young women. The provision of childcare by S.A.M gave participants an opportunity to adapt to motherhood while continuing education. Practical support provided through S.A.M in the form of careers, benefits and housing advice helped reduce anxieties.
• The S.A.M project helped some young mothers through child care provision which enabled them continue with their studies, and it helped others prepare and adjust to motherhood. All of the young mothers commented positively on the importance of the social support provided by the staff and participants. The research found that the provision of quality, on-site child care was instrumental in engaging the young women and enabling them to see the project as a realistic option for them at this stage in their lives.
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Emerging Issues - Views of Professionals

• A consistent theme in all interviews with professionals was the need for improved, school based sex education. The issuing and dissemination of Guidance from the Department of Education was seen as a requirement of this. While the S.A.M project has contributed to schools adopting a more positive approach to supporting school age mothers, some professionals commented on the need for further improvements if returning to their base schools is to be a realistic option for these young women.
• The S.A.M project was praised by professionals and the was seen as overcoming some of the problems traditionally related to poor uptake of services, by providing education, health and social supports in one location. However there was little agreement among professionals about how and by whom quality childcare for school age mothers should be funded, although this need was recognised by them. One possibility suggested was through the Children's Services Plans.
• A number of professionals thought that the support needs of grandparents and young fathers needed to be explored. The model of peer support provided through the S.A.M project has been effective and could be adapted to be used in awareness raising and preventive work with other young people.

The Way Forward

• Researchers stated that future policy should be informed by the lessons gained by collaborative approaches at local level and that consideration should be given to introducing the EMA to facilitate continued education.
• In addition clearer guidance is needed on benefit support, particularly for 16 and 17 year olds. Provision should also be made in a budgetary context for a child care allowance for all mothers aged under 18 who wish to remain in, or return to, full time education or training. The authors also recommended that schools should be required to develop policies on Sex Education and on Pastoral Care of Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers.