Contraceptive jabs for girls of just 13

Nov 18 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

GOVERNMENT health chiefs are encouraging contraceptive injections for Newcastle girls as part of a £27m plan to cut teen pregnancy.

The Department of Health wrote to the city council encouraging it to take advantage of all available contraception measures – including the jabs.

Injections can be given to girls as young as 13 to stop them getting pregnant for up to three months. But Newcastle City Council last night stressed it was not being “ordered” to up the number of teenagers getting the jab.

A spokesman said the Government letter was urging a wider take-up of all contraception from the £26.8m cash pot, not just the injections.

Heidi Douglas, manager at Streetwise, a sexual health clinic in Newcastle, said it was already offering contraceptive jabs to 13-year-olds. She said the clinic, an independent charity, promotes safe sex as well as contraception and advises condom use to minimise the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Ms Douglas said: “We set questions and work out what is best for the young person and for some that is a three-month injection alongside condom use.

“They would have to see a doctor or nurse, who would speak to the young person, and also a youth worker. It’s not a case of going around injecting young people without any consent whatsoever.”

Ms Douglas said the clinic saw 18,000 people a year between the ages of 13 and 25 and parents concerned about their children getting the jab behind their back should talk to them about it.

She said: “Parents need to start having conversations with young people – most of the time it will be a relief and a really positive move.” The letter to the council was one of a number sent by Health Department Minister Dawn Primarolo and Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes to teen pregnancy hotspots around the country to cut abortions and unplanned pregnancies.

But Dr Danny Ruta, director of public health for Newcastle Primary Care Trust, said there was no policy in Newcastle to give contraceptive implants to 13-year-olds.

He said: “The average age of first sex is 16 and 80% of conceptions to under-18s are among 16 and 17-year-olds, so the focus for improved contraceptive use will be mainly on the older teenagers.

“However, if young people under 16 are sexually active, it is essential they receive high quality advice about effective contraception. Of course, implant or oral contraception does not protect from sexually transmitted infections, which is why it is important that we continue to work with young people so they understand the potential consequences of risky sexual behaviour – and if they are going to have sex, always use a condom.”

A spokesman for the city council said: “The letter sent to the council by the Government makes only a fleeting reference to implants, in reference to advising us to access central funding to improve access to all forms of contraception. The letter does not order us to increase the uptake of contraceptive jabs and implants, and in particular makes absolutely no reference at all to giving these jabs to 13-year-olds.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Thirteen-year-old girls will not be forced to have a contraceptive injection. The vast majority of 13-year-old girls are not sexually active.

“We know we need to do more work to prevent unwanted pregnancies and promote the wider range of contraception. That is why we are putting in place a £26.8m programme this year to inform all young women about all types of contraception.”

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