The number of teenage girls having babies has dropped sharply [1] from 3,135 in 1999 to 705 last year, but the complex social issues they face have increased, it has emerged.
National manager of the Teen Parents Support Programme (TPSP), Samantha Dunne said more young parents today have a social care background, increased mental health issues, exposure to domestic abuses, high incidences of homelessness and substance misuse problems.
“So although births to young parents have decreased, challenges, adversity and many other systemic issues can impact young parents significantly,” she said. “This has led to the need to expand the age-range criteria, and support parents for a longer period of time,” she said.