Falling pregnancy rates in the UK have been attributed to a greater understanding of contraception rather than a growing propensity to abstain.

The US government has long favoured abstention as its primary policy and advocates of this strategy recently celebrated the fact that pregnancy rates among 15 to 19-year-old girls fell by 27 per cent between 1991 and 2000.

Birth rates for the same group fell by 33 per cent between 1991 and 2003 and conservative groups in the US have been keen to point out that abstention is proving exceptionally successful.

But a report carried out by New York's Columbia University and the Guttmacher Institute has poured scorn on this assessment and has instead pointed to a growing awareness of the importance of protection.

The study has found that 86 per cent of the decrease in pregnancies can be attributed to the use of contraception in the period, with just 14 per cent attributable to teenagers deciding to abstain.

The researchers observed: "Abstinence promotion is a worthwhile goal, particularly among younger teenagers; however, the scientific evidence shows that, in itself, it is insufficient to help adolescents prevent unintended pregnancies.

"The current emphasis of US domestic and global policies, which stress abstinence-only sex education to the exclusion of accurate information on contraception, is misguided," they added.

Anne Weyman, chief executive from the Family Planning Association, has told the BBC that "robust contraception services, comprehensive sex and relationship education and a mature attitude to young people's sexuality" are key to lowering pregnancy rates.

Coinciding with World Aids Day, the report from the US has acted as a reminder to educators of the importance of informing children about all aspects of sexual health.

© Adfero Ltd