Teen pregnancy rate is falling

Strategy is paying off as figures drop to lowest in a decade

THE number of teenagers falling pregnant in Oldham is continuing to fall reaching its lowest level in a decade, according to new figures.

Information published yesterday by the Office of National Statistics reveal 38 under 18s fell pregnant between January and March last year, compared with 59 the same time in 2007.

The fall in teenage pregnancies in the town is proportionately greater than the national fall of just 138 from 10,844 to 10,706 in the same period.

The Government has pledged to halve teenage pregnancy among under-18s by 2010.

Sharon West, teenage pregnancy co-ordinator at Positive Steps Oldham said: “We are delighted with this reduction as there had been a small rise in the rates for 2007.

“Trends in quarterly conceptions should be interpreted with caution as the data is only provisional.

“However, we can be optimistic that we will continue to see an overall reduction in the conception rates for 2008 if this quarterly trend continues.

“Oldham has a strong multi-agency partnership approach to this issue and has developed a clear teenage pregnancy strategy with a range of key objectives, including ensuring good quality sex and relationships education in schools; access to contraceptive services seven days a week; a condom distribution scheme; and multi-agency staff training on sexual health awareness.

“In addition, good support services to teenage parents are available to enable them to start or continue with their education/employment and access to child care.

“Postnatal services are also in place to prevent subsequent pregnancies.

“In the last year we have developed a successful working partnership with children’s centres which has seen antenatal care provided by a specialist midwife and drop-in sessions for young parents with children centre staff and health visitors all being offered in a central location.”

A study last year found teenage girls who watch a lot of TV shows with a high sexual content are twice as likely to become pregnant.

Experts urge parents to talk more openly with their children about sex.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: “It is very encouraging to see that the numbers of under-18 conceptions fell during the first quarter of 2008 and we need to maintain this momentum.”

The figures come a week after The Chronicle reported 78 abortions were carried out in the town last year on children under 18 — more than one in ten of the total 758 procedures.