Health sites need to attract more Asian teenagers, reveals study

The interim study of the Young People's Health Demonstration Sites found three of the four pilot sites had trouble engaging with Asian teenagers in areas with large Asian populations.

Researchers from the Social Science Research Unit at London's Institute of Education also discovered the pilots struggled to reach looked-after children, young offenders and teenagers with long-term medical conditions or disabilities.

Helen Austerberry, research officer at the unit and co- manager of the study, said: "The sites need to try to reach more disadvantaged groups and young men."

The interim evaluation said the four sites need to broaden the reach of their services so all young people can access them.

The demonstration sites are in Bolton, Hackney, Northumberland and Portsmouth and are running for a two-year period, which ends in October. The sites were selected by the Department of Health to test new ways to provide healthcare to young people.

Despite problems in reaching disadvantaged groups, the researchers said more young people were using services in the four areas and had access to a wider range of services. Of the young people questioned by researchers, more than nine out of 10 said they would recommend the service to a friend.

However, the projects faced several challenges when starting up, including difficulties finding suitable premises and recruiting staff. The report also said participation of young people in the planning, management and review of services was "less than ideal" in some sites.

Austerberry said young people often only went to the sites for sexual health advice and need to be made aware they offer other health services. The evaluation also stated that work should be done to make sure the services created for the pilot study continue once Department of Health funding ends.