The Guardian (London) (02.27.09) - Monday, March 02, 2009
Mary O'Hara
Government ministers said the national strategy to halve teen pregnancies by half by 2010 is still on course, despite new data showing setbacks in England and Wales.
From 2006 to 2007, pregnancies among girls ages 12-15 in England and Wales rose from 7.8 per 1,000 to 8.1 per 1,000, according to the Office for National Statistics. Rates among girls ages 15-17 rose from 40.9 pregnancies per 1,000 to 41.9 per 1,000. More than 8,000 girls under age 16 became pregnant in 2007.
Nonetheless, the longer-term trends are better, said Beverley Hughes, the children's minister. Since 1998, pregnancies have fallen by 12.6 percent among girls under age 18, and by 12.3 percent among girls under age 16.
Hughes announced a ú20.5 million (US $29.4 million) package to improve teenagers' access to contraception and information about the risks of unprotected sex. A ú7 million (US $10 million) "contraceptive choices" media campaign will be launched, and ú10 million (US $14.3 million) will be channeled to local health services to ensure contraceptive access "in the right places at the right time."
Several advocates lauded the government's strategy, though they noted its local implementation has been patchy. The problem is compounded by ministers' inattention, said Gill Frances, chair of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group.
No comments:
Post a Comment