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Scottish Nudists say getting naked could be the solution to the British teenage pregnancy problem that is worrying Kingston University students.

In a submission to the Scottish Government this week, the British Naturism organisation said that a more relaxed attitude to the nude body could reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and that it was no coincidence that a high pregnancy level was found in the least ‘liberal’ countries.  

With the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the western world and over 7,000 under-16-year-olds falling pregnant every year, the UK compares poorly to its Danish and Dutch neighbours.

Kingston nudist and member of Naturists UK, Bernard Boase commented: “I can’t understand why society has to divide up our bodies like a butcher’s chart and say this bit is good and this bit is bad. If there was not such a stigma towards nudity in Britain, I think people would understand and respect their own bodies better.”

Last month after the news of Alfie Patten - the 13-year-old Dad - shocked the nation, an independent survey carried out at Penrhyn Road campus showed that 98 per cent of students felt that Britain had a teenage pregnancy problem, despite the government spending £63 million on prevention in the past three years.    

Michael Appiah, a 23-year-old Civil Engineering student said: “Kids aren’t innocent anymore. This case raises the issue of earlier sex education and more should be done to prevent it from happening”  

However, figures from the Office of National Statistics show that teenage pregnancy in England has receded over the past decade and dropped by 13 per cent between 1998 and 2006. Kingston upon Thames has enjoyed one of the biggest decreases of under 18 pregnancies in the country seeing the numbers drop by 27 per cent.

Despite this drop in numbers, Kirsty Marsh, a 19-year-old Drama student said she was surprised to see so many young mothers pushing prams around Kingston when she first came here from Chesterfield.

She said; “I thought that because Kingston was a wealthy place there wouldn’t be a problem.” Miss Marsh also said that out of the 13 girls in her high school, she was the only one who was not yet married or pregnant but insisted that most of these pregnancies were by choice rather than accident.

“I don’t think nudity’s as big an issue as it used to be though, I know a lot of people who would be only too pleased to get naked in front of anybody and that might be more the problem,” she quipped.

Some KU students are teenage parents themselves and have to juggle between bringing up their child correctly and concentrating on getting a good degree.
One such student who did not wish to be named said; “I felt like dropping out of University at times because I got so tired. But luckily with the help of friends and family I managed to pull though. The University Nursery has also been really helpful now that my son is older.”
The OFSTED inspected KU Nursery caters primarily for children of students and staff and boasts three fully equipped educational units.

The Nursery Deputy Director, Katy Evans said: “The nursery only caters for children from the ages of two, which would not help young mums with babies but I know we (KU Nursery) have a good health and counselling section which the teenage parents could find helpful.
“I’m not sure if being more comfortable with nudity would affect people’s attitudes towards sex, as I think there is many different cultures and beliefs that affect your upbringing and morals, and that education is the key.”

Mr Boase believes that this perception of British prudery being at the heart of teenage pregnancy problems was not a view shared by all nudists.

He said: “Despite the obvious correlation between countries where nudism is more accepted and lower teenage pregnancy rates, I must admit that there is no evident evidence on which to base the statement made by Scottish Nudists.”