Home Local News Drop in St Helens teenage pregnancy rates

Drop in St Helens teenage pregnancy rates

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Latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of teenage pregnancies in St Helens has fallen for the third year running, echoing the national trend.

In 2013 there were 106 under 18 conceptions, compared to 123 in the previous year and 147 in 2011.  This is the lowest number of under 18 conceptions in St Helens since 2005, giving us an annual rate of 34.2 per 1000 young women aged 15-17 years compared to 38.1 in 2012 and 45.4 in 2011.

In addition, the number of under 16 conceptions, which is measured on a rolling three year basis, has also fallen, with 88 pregnancies for 2011-2013, compared to 108 for 2010-2012 and 113 for 2009-2011.

Director of Public Health for St Helens Council said, “Teenage conceptions remain an important issue in St Helens, as the local rate is significantly higher than the England and North West averages (24.3 and 27.6 per 1,000 respectively). However, over recent years, teenage conceptions in St Helens have fallen at a faster rate than both national and regional values and we are committed to building on the positive work undertaken locally”.

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing Councillor Andy Bowden added: “We welcome these figures because it shows that we are making progress in this complex area.  Increasing aspirations in young people is the key to reducing risk-taking behaviours and the new sexual health strategy calls for a joined up approach across all partner agencies.”

A new sexual healthy strategy 2015-18 has been launched with a clear vision for improving the sexual health needs of young people in St Helens and there are many examples of work across the borough that support this agenda.  Since April 2014, the TAZ Outreach team have delivered the innovative 6 week healthy body healthy mind programme to 463 young people in the Borough with a view to making them more aware about safe sex and more confident about forming healthy relationships. Other examples include modernised, six days a week sexual health clinics which are young people friendly, school based drop ins and key training for youth service workers and front line professionals, giving them the confidence to talk to teens about the issues that matter most to them.

There is also more support for teenage mothers through the Family Nurse Partnership intensive health visiting programme. This has been shown to improve life chances for young mothers and their babies.

To find out more about sexual health visit www.getiton.org.uk or www.tazsh.com or you can follow the TAZ Outreach Team @TAZStHelens and follow the CaSH service @CaSH_StHK or call 0845 155 0156 for more information.

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