Sexual Health

Summary

It is widely accepted that Children and Young People who have been looked after either at home, with kinship/foster carers, or in residential or secure institutions have increased health needs in comparison to children and young people from comparable socio economic backgrounds who have not been in the care system. Health, education and social outcomes for looked after children often remain poorer than those of their peers with higher rates of teenage pregnancy, smoking and substance misuse, mental and emotional health problems, criminality, and poor educational attainment. Their longer term health outcomes also remain worse than their peers.