Fewer under-18s having abortions

THE number of women having abortions in Oldham has increased — but fewer teenagers are undergoing terminations.

Statistics from the Department of Health reveal there were 758 abortions in Oldham last year, compared with 746 in 2007 — an increase of 12.

But figures for teenagers in the borough have fallen, with 78 under 18s undergoing a termination, compared with 89 in 2007, and the figure for 18 and 19-year-olds down from 90 to 80.

The overall increase has slowed as the number of women having abortions had shot up from 664 in 2006 to the 2007 total, which had been an increase of more than one a week. The only age group that saw a significant rise in 2008 was 25-29 year-olds, up from 142 to 189.

Nationally, the total number of abortions was 195,296, compared with 198,499 in 2007 — a fall of 1.6 per cent, contrasting with the previous year’s increase of 2.5 per cent.

The under-18 rate was down to 18.9 per 1,000 women, which in Oldham is lower than 17.

The NHS funded 91 per cent of the abortions, with 90 per cent carried out at under 13 weeks gestation. Medical abortions accounted for 38 per cent of the total, with 1 per cent (1,988) under the grounds that the child would be born handicapped.

Oldham’s figures show that 225 of the abortions were carried out on 20 to 24-year-olds (down from 239), 93 on 30 to 34-year-olds (down from 95) and 93 for those over 35 (up from 91).

NHS Oldham says it is working hard to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, including expanding the contraception and sexual health service to ensure women can easily access contraception and advice.

Clinics are held at locations across the borough and services promoted at numerous events.

Staff go out to visit young people at colleges and community venues and free emergency contraception is available at the Walk-in Centre, John Street, and in pharmacies.

Funding is also given to the advisory service Brook to provide a young people’s sexual health service from its town centre base.

Alan Higgins, Oldham’s director of public health, said: “I’m really pleased to see that the number of abortions carried out on young people under the age of 18 has decreased. This is testament to the hard work displayed by our staff to promote contraception and sexual health awareness.

“It is disappointing that the number of abortions has increased overall in Oldham. However, it has added to our determination to make sure women of all ages know about the wide range of service advice available to them and that they can easily access this, and contraception, when and where they need to.”

The contraception and sexual health team can be contacted on 0161-906 2815.`