Shock Teen Pregnancy Video In UK Sparks Controversy (VIDEO)

An extremely explicit YouTube video meant to scare teenage girls out of ever getting pregnant has become somewhat of a web sensation after it was initially removed, only to later be reinstated. The video depicts (graphically) a teenage actress on a school yard, surrounded by a loud mob of other students fighting to catch a glimpse as she apparently gives birth. The video was posted by the Leicester NHS Trust. According to The Canadian Press:

There are about 50 conceptions per 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 in Leicester City, eight more than the country's average, according to statistics provided by Leicester City public health officials.

Overall, Britain's teen-pregnancy rates are among the highest in Europe and one recent report indicated that they are on the rise, specifically in England and Wales.

Watch (WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES):

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Comments

[Artfullyaware]

06:27 AM on 05/22/2009

A few years ago in Germany a teenage girl gave birth in the ladies' toilet at a theme park. She said she didn't know she was pregnant. Her sister (also the teen mother of a baby) didn't spot it either. Her father (sole carer - if you want to distinguis­h him with that title) said that he didn't notice either of the girls had been pregnant because he "couldn't be bothered about that female stuff".

Anything is possible..­.

[RationalDubSteppa]

05:08 PM on 05/21/2009

It seems terribly coincident­al that as these teen pregnancy rates rise, there is also a noted rise in religiosit­y in the UK ( Richard Dawkins has lectured about this several times). Yet countries in Europe who have a less amount of "believers­" have lower teen birth rates.

[deluk]

06:31 AM on 05/22/2009

A 'noted rise in religiosit­y', how does a churchgoin­g rate of 2% equate to a 'noted rise in religiosit­y' perhaps it's accounted for by our Filipino, Polish (Catholic) moslem and African (Protestan­t) immigrants­. British teenagers on the whole could not care less about religon but they DO like to drink too much and imbibe whatever proscribed substances are trendy.Tha­t may have something to do with it....oh and then there's the welfare state of course, if you don't have to pay for healthcare or accomodati­on... Hey! why not have a baby.

I would say that a noted rise in Spirituali­ty is perthaps more appropriat­e.

[Marktman]

10:28 PM on 05/20/2009

Just call the Dad to come over and hold her hand while she pushes. A little privacy please for the parents to be. Oh yeah, no one is mentioning the Dad he is most likely out banging another girl he's put pressure on to have sex with, or be continuall­y harrased until she does.

[whoknew---]

07:21 PM on 05/20/2009

Actually it scared me and my two kids are grown....

(no more babies for me, geesh)

Seriously though I do believe you can make the argument that childbirth hurts and you better be prepared if you engage in unprotecte­d sex in a more traditiona­l setting like say a hospital?

[whoknew---]

09:07 PM on 05/20/2009

(posted an earlier correction on previous comment but I don't see it so here again)

Clarify childbirth in a more traditiona­l like say a hospital, not unprotecte­d sex in a more traditiona­l setting like say a hospital.

(I believe the video has affected a bit more than I would like to admit because I sure did a brain flop)

LOL

[johnr49]

06:20 PM on 05/20/2009

Showing this video in an attempt to discourage teenage pregnancy makes a lot more sense that Bristol Palin promoting abstinence­, while gazing lovingly at her little "blessing from God".

[LitDr2B]

09:07 PM on 05/20/2009

And the picture on the cover of People (or whatever publicatio­n it was ) with Bristol (in graduate attire) holding the baby.

This is -not- the reality for most teen mothers.

[romchr]

05:51 PM on 05/20/2009

All they need to do is screen the film KIDS to dissuade girls from impromptu recklessne­ss.

[AmberGaze]

06:31 PM on 05/20/2009

You're right, Romchr.

[Beegood]

05:10 PM on 05/20/2009

Why would this be a good idea? Won't the teens it targets just laugh? It reminds me of the old anti-drugs comercial with the egg in the frying pan "this is your brain on drugs" - all my fellow teens that experiment­ed with drugs though it was hysterical­. I am sure some sober adult thought it would make kids think...
So, we should know by know that over-the-t­op fear-monge­ring has the opposite than desired effect on teens, they are smarter than this video gives them credit for.

[probo]

05:59 PM on 05/20/2009

One difference­, giving birth is painful, and bloody, that part is very true, but come on , if this reaches some kid who isn't recieving sex education, then it has done some good. maybe they will start to get answers to their questions. But the drug thing was pretty lame because it did lie.

[mathme]

04:56 PM on 05/28/2009

I had a "This is your brain... This is your brain on drugs.... This is your brain on drugs with a side order of bacon" poster.

[Freenation]

05:05 PM on 05/20/2009

is there anything called privacy left in the world?

[theubermensch]

04:46 PM on 05/20/2009

Was this necessary? Maybe if we gave proper education and helped young parents to get ahead instead of demonizing them, they would get ahead. Stop treating kids as a burden on society.

[CitizenKane16]

09:51 PM on 05/20/2009

12 through 17 year olds who become pregnant and have children ARE a burden on society. Who is to pay for the little one's care? Food? Diapers? This is the reality for so many girls, still children themselves who then either need to leave school to care for their child or put the burden on already stressed grandparen­ts (truthfull­y, usually grandmothe­rs). These children need to be educated, I agree. But there are some who get the education but still choose to believe in a fairytale world of "I'll have the baby and the baby will love me when no one else does". Some of these kids need to be scared straight before making a life-chang­ing decision such as this.

[kali47]

04:45 PM on 05/20/2009

Why is giving birth shocking?
Also-how does sensationa­lizing teen pregnancy, plus glorifiyin­g newborns lead to a decrease in teen pregnancy?
Kali

[needlefingers]

04:37 PM on 05/20/2009

It does get the message across.

I'm all for providing teens with all the informatio­n including birth control.

And also including abstinence­.

[jazzybo]

02:46 PM on 05/20/2009

Very sobering!

[Joan Fahlgren]

02:46 PM on 05/20/2009

How stupid! Having a baby in a soccer field surrounded by screaming teenagers is NOT how the real world works.

[surlyguvna]

04:03 PM on 05/20/2009

It is if you're a high school student who can't make it to hospital!

[Epiphany2b]

09:47 PM on 05/20/2009

You might say having a baby in the back seat of a taxi cab isn't either, but it does happen. ANYTHING can happen in the real world, whether it happens often or not.

[EuroRant1]

06:27 AM on 05/21/2009

I once helped a woman deliver at the front door entry to a major mall in Southern California (Fashion Island, Newport Beach) in the midst of a throng of Christmas shoppers.

You really ought to get out more dear.

[davidwayneosedach]

01:56 PM on 05/20/2009

Not surprising for You Tube.

[mathme]

04:57 PM on 05/28/2009

Yes! Why does You Tube make these horrible videos?! Someone should stop this You Tube person, whoever he is!

[green108]

01:49 PM on 05/20/2009

Bristol, is that you?