Press Release - Decrease in TP

17 Mar 2010

PRESS RELEASE 

24 February 2010 

Swindon Sees 10th Largest Decrease in Teenage Pregnancies Nationally 

Swindon Borough Council is the 10th best performing local authority for reducing teenage pregnancy following the release of national figures today (Wednesday) for 2008. The proportion of young women becoming pregnant locally has also fallen below the national average for the first time since 1998. The figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the rate of teenage pregnancy in Swindon has reduced by a third over the last decade. A total of 126 young women aged between 15 and 17 became pregnant in Swindon during 2008, a rate of 36.1 per 1,000 women. This was a decline from the 158 pregnancies in the same age group during 2007, a rate of 45.9 per 1,000 women. There has also been a decline in the number of young women choosing to continue their pregnancy, down from 98 in 2007 to 56 in 2008.    

The figures continue the downward trend for the area and mean Swindon is the best performing local authority area in the South West, and joint 10th best nationally, in terms of reducing teenage pregnancy.  Swindon Borough Council works with NHS Swindon to commission local services addressing teenage pregnancy.  

Cllr Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Children Services, said: “Historically, Swindon has been among the areas with the highest number of teenage pregnancies, but over the years these figures have fallen dramatically thanks to the work of staff and partners who battle endlessly to get the right messages across to the young people of Swindon. This is also another testament to our excellent partnership with NHS Swindon.” The reduction has been attributed to: increased investment in improving sex and relationships education across schools, colleges and youth organisationsincreased availability of sexual health services across the boroughincreased support for professionals and parentslinks to increased levels of educational achievement in the borough’s schools, such as improved GCSE results John Gilbert, Group Director of Children Services at Swindon Borough Council, said: “We are delighted with the latest statistics which continue the positive downward trend. It reflects the good joint work taking place locally between NHS Swindon, schools and children’s services, but we are not complacent as we need to continue to support young women and men to make safer choices in their sexual activity so that unplanned and unwanted pregnancies do not occur.” NHS Swindon Acting Chief Executive Heather Mitchell, welcomed the latest reduction in teenage conceptions which continues the previous trends. She said: “We know that unintended pregnancy in teenage years can often lead to negative outcomes for mothers and their children, and we want to do all we can to help. “These statistics are a testament to the hard work of health, education and youth professionals across the Borough who offer advice, information, education and contraception and sexual health.” 

ENDS 

Notes for Editors: 

Media contacts: Liz Richmond, Communications Officer, Swindon Borough Council, (01793) 463117 or Saskia Konynenburg, Communications, NHS Swindon, (01793) 708761.  Local authority reduction rate from 1998 to 2008. Swindon is joint tenth with Warrington.