Ups and downs of teen pregnancies

OLDHAM has been singled out by Government for reducing teenage pregnancies more quickly than most other areas — but the town still boasts higher rates than the national average.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that 46.7 per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls became pregnant in Oldham in 2007, compared with 45.1 per 1,000 the previous year.

It means the number of potential gym-slip mums rose from 202 in 2006 to 211 in 2007.

Of the 211 girls who fell pregnant, 44 per cent opted to have an abortion.

Nationally, pregnancy rates among under-18s in England and Wales rose from 40.9 per 1,000 girls in 2006 to 41.9 in 2007 with 42,918 pregnancies — the highest level since 2002.

But despite Oldham’s rate being higher than the national average, ministers last night heaped praise on the area for reducing the conception rate from 76.1 per 1,000 in 1998 to its current level.

The 29.4 per cent reduction makes it the second highest decrease in the country.

Oldham’s teenage pregnancy co-ordinator Sharon West, said: “Despite a slight increase in teenage conceptions, our overall performance makes us the seventh best performing partnership in the country, which is a jump from ninth last year.

“This means we are still on course to meet the Government’s target of halving teenage conceptions by 2010, and gives us confidence that the services and communication we have with young people in Oldham is accessible and appropriate.

“We will continue to work with our partners to deliver services for young people that are both accessible and appropriate.”

This year Oldham opened the North-West’s first Targeted Youth Support Centre (at Positive Steps Oldham) which provides teenage parents the chance to meet with others through a young parents drop-in, receive ongoing support from health professionals including contraceptive services, and if needed, teenage parents can access all of their antenatal care at the centre.

Ms West said that in the last year health chiefs have provided free condoms to young people, made sure young people have confidential access to contraception services six days a week, and ensured they receive suitable advice and guidance on sex and relations.

In addition, parents have been helped to develop skills enabling them to talk to their teenagers about sex and relationships, and a Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lead for secondary schools, who will ensure schools are supported to deliver quality sex and relationship education has been appointed.

Government has pledged to halve teenage pregnancy rates among girls under 18 by half by next year. And yesterday ministers announced £20.5 million of new cash will be made available to promote the use of contraception.

Health chiefs across the country will share £10 million of the fund to ensure contraception is available “in the right places at the right time”

Children’s Minister Beverly Hughes said: “There is no doubt that rates have come down where local areas have implemented the strategy properly, even in deprived areas.