This in-depth study explores the motivations for ‘planned’ teenage pregnancy in England. The findings have important implications for the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and the increasing political agenda on young people and health.

The report is based on 51 in-depth interviews, undertaken among teenagers in six relatively disadvantaged locations who reported their pregnancy as ‘planned’ (41 women and 10 men). Key findings include:*

Young women report varied accounts of the extent to which their pregnancy was planned.

Young women’s childhood and background act as contributing factors to ‘planning’ a pregnancy.

More explicit and direct influences include viewing pregnancy as a chance to gain a new identity and change direction in life.

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The report includes numerous quotations from young people and documents two contrasting case studies.

‘Planned’ teenage pregnancy will be of interest to practitioners, policy-makers and researchers in the teenage pregnancy field, including youth workers, Connexions PAs, social workers, and teachers who work with young people before conception, as well as teenage pregnancy co-ordinators, teenage-parent support workers, midwives and health visitors who work closely with young parents or parents-to-be.