An evaluation of a new teenage clinic and its impact on teenage conceptions in Nottingham from 1986 to 1992.

A new contraceptive clinic for teenagers was developed in the centre of Nottingham from 1987 to 1992 and provided care for over 1500 young people in its first three years. Twenty-five percent of clients were aged 16 years and 32% aged 15 or younger. Sixty-seven percent were in full-time education and young unemployed people were under-represented. The majority were young women, who came for routine contraception, usually the oral contraceptive or condom. Seventeen percent came for emergency contraception and 8% for abortion counselling and referral. Over the period 1986 to 1992, data on conceptions for teenage women and women aged over 20 years, who were resident in Nottingham Health district, were compared and when corrected for the estimated population showed that there had been no reduction in teenage conception rates; reasons for this are discussed. The value of conception rates as a measure of quality of sexual health care for teenagers is questioned and other more qualitative methods suggested.