Free contraceptives aimed at tackling teenage pregnancy have prompted a rise in cases of sexually transmitted infections among young people, according to a new report.
The study of 95 English health authorities, also found that increased access to contraception led directly to a higher pregnancy rate among the under-18s.
Professor David Paton, of Nottingham university’s business school, said:
“Some measures aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy rates induced changes in teenage behaviour that were large enough not only to negate the intended impact on conceptions, but to have an adverse impact on sexually transmitted infections.”
