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Friday, February 25th, 2011

U.K. Teen Pregnancy Rate Lowest for 30 Years

Author:     ROB HASTINGS
Source:     The Independent (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Wednesday, 23 February 2011
 Link: U.K. Teen Pregnancy Rate Lowest for 30 Years
Stephan:   As I wrote the other day, the attack on Planned Parenthood is going to result in a degrading of the social network. It is clear, as this report shows, that good sex education and women's reproductive services results in lowered teen pregnancy. In contrast, as the policies to be found in red states show, the conservative 'social values' agenda results in an increase in STDS, unwed pregnancies, spousal abuse, and childhood health complications

Health campaigners lauded a historic low in teenage pregnancy yesterday but warned that government cuts will soon send the numbers rising again.

Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed the rate of conceptions among women aged 15-17 fell to 3.83 per cent in 2009. This was a decline of 5.9 per cent on the previous year’s figures, and was the lowest level for almost 30 years.

However, two experts in the subject claimed that the rate will inevitably begin to increase again if reductions in sexual health services are carried out.

Simon Blake, director of the sexual health charity Brook, said that while the figures demonstrated the amount of work that has gone into reducing teen pregnancy during the past decade, the Government’s cuts are ‘short-sighted’.

‘We strongly urge the Government to ensure a continued local and national focus on teenage pregnancy as we know that if we stop focusing on delivering sexual health services the rates will go up,’ Mr Blake said. He added that further investment would in fact save money, claiming ‘for every £1 spent on contraception, £11 is saved’.

His views were echoed by Gill Frances, former chair of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group. said: ‘We are currently experiencing […]

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