Teen pregnancy rates are falling

Feb 29 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

THE number of teenage pregnancies in the North East is falling, according to new figures published last night.

South Tyneside has come second in the country and top in the region for cutting teenage pregnancy rates, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The borough saw a 37.6% drop in the teenage pregnancy rate during 2006 since the 1998 baseline, compared to a 13.3% overall reduction in the under-18 conception rate in England.

The national figures showed the biggest drop for five years in teenage conception rates.

In 1998, South Tyneside’s rate was 40% higher than the national average and this achievement means the borough has closed the inequality gap as the level is now the same as the national average.

The latest annual figures for 2006 highlight a further decrease in teenage conceptions of almost 12% in South Tyneside on the previous year.

Ruth McKeown, South Tyneside’s director of public health, said: “This further reduction is testimony to the hard work and commitment of all key agencies in the borough.

“We accept there is further work to be done to reach the Government’s target of a 50% reduction by 2010 but we are thrilled with the progress made to date.

“Our work to reduce teenage pregnancies will need to be maintained over an extended period of time to bring lasting benefits.”

Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, welcomed South Tyneside’s success, saying: “By contrast Stockton has seen an increase in its teenage pregnancy rates. This variation in performance once again shows that good local delivery is crucial in getting conception rates down.”

North Tyneside also faired well in the league tables with a drop of 16.6%.

A spokeswoman for NHS North of Tyne said: “We are continuously working to drive the rates down and realise there is still a lot of work to be done.”

Between 1998 and 2006, 89% of local authorities have seen an overall reduction in their under-18 conception rate compared with 83% in 2005.

The decline in the under-18 conception rate in England contrasts sharply with increases in the conception rate for all other age groups.