Teenage pregnancy rates in South Gloucestershire have fallen by 14.2 per cent, according to figures released this week.
The provisional 2008 under-18 conception rate for South Gloucestershire was 29 per 1,000 girls aged 15-17; a decrease of 14.2 per cent since 1998.
This compares favourably with the 13.9 per cent fall for England and Wales in figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The South Gloucestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership, including South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire, Connexions and Brook, has worked to reduce conception rates by developing No Worries! sexual health outreach services improving provision of sex and relationships education, training for professionals and an information website for young people have been developed by the South Gloucestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership in consultation with young people.
Young people can look for advice and where they can access the No Worries! condom-card scheme online at www.youthunltd.com.
Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “The reduction in teenage pregnancy rates in South Gloucestershire is welcome news. The training in relationships and sexual health for professionals and carers who work with young people has huge potential to impact on young people’s understanding and attitudes to sex. Services in South Gloucestershire are being developed to provide better support for parents to talk to their children about all kinds of issues, including relationships.”
Rhiannon Holder, 22, a teenage pregnancy project worker at South Gloucestershire Council, who is due to receive an MBE today in recognition of services to young people’s healthcare, said: “The last couple of years have been all about developing sexual health services which ensure young people have access to quality support services, without judgement and without having to travel far; one such success has been the No Worries! scheme, which helps young people to access a controlled number of free condoms with advice from a trained youth support worker. We are proud of this achievement but we are not complacent about it and we will continue to work hard in South Gloucestershire to make sure young people are given the right information to make informed choices.”
Dr Chris Payne, Director of Public Health at NHS South Gloucestershire, added: “It is hugely encouraging to see that the teenage pregnancy rate in South Gloucestershire is reducing. The South Gloucestershire No Worries! Scheme has increased availability of contraception and sexual health information to young people aged under 20, whilst encouraging them to reflect on their readiness to have sex. Making sure that young people can access the scheme through colleges, youth clubs, clinics and pharmacies helps young people to stay safe and healthy and helps them explore and understand the importance of relationships.”
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
