Antenatal clinics should be set up in schools to care for pregnant teenagers who are missing out on vital care, a major health watchdog said today.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) wants midwives to go into schools to offer advice to expectant young mothers and carry out health checks. Evidence shows that pregnant women under 20 often feel excluded from mainstream antenatal care and judged by their peers, Nice said.
The clinics would be part of a package of care aimed at women from deprived backgrounds, including those suffering domestic abuse, drug or alcohol misuse and women who struggle with written and spoken English. However, critics said the idea could "normalise" teenage pregnancy and increase the problem.
Experts behind the guidance, which applies to England and Wales, said services should be tailored to the needs of women in each region, such as providing "one-stop shop" antenatal care in areas with high teen pregnancy rates.
The guidance said NHS trusts should commission "antenatal care and education in peer groups in a variety of settings, such as GP surgeries, children's centres and schools".
It added: "Young women aged under 20 may be reluctant to recognise their pregnancy or inhibited by embarrassment and fear of parental reaction.
"They may also have practical problems such as difficulty getting to and from antenatal appointments".
Rhona Hughes, chair of the guideline development group, said no British schools were currently providing antenatal classes but it was "common" in the US and had shown some success.
The Guardian
