Teenage pregnancies continue to fall in Warwickshire
Warwickshire’s Respect Yourself Campaign is welcoming a continued fall in the number of young people falling pregnant.
The Office of National Statistics has released the latest under-18 conception rates (2008 data), which show a 10.8 per cent reduction in Warwickshire compared to the previous years fall of 10.3 per cent (2007 data).
In total, the number of conceptions in the county reduced to 36.9 per thousand of the female population (aged between 15 and 17) this year (2008 data) from 37.1 per thousand of the female population (15 to 17) last time (2007 data).
Warwickshire continues to remain below the average for England and Wales, which fell from 41.9 per thousand of the female population (15-17) in 2007 to 40.6 per thousand of the female population (15 to 17) in 2008.
Amy Danahay, Respect Yourself Campaign manager, said: “Although it would seem to be a small reduction in the number of under-18 conceptions in the county, we are encouraged to see the rate continue to fall as it has done over the last ten years.
“The Respect Yourself Campaign and partners involved with the teenage pregnancy strategy are constantly working hard to encourage young people to delay early sex and to practice safe sex when they do become sexually active.
“Locally, the partnership has seen the introduction of sexual health outreach workers, inspected sexual health services in parts of the county through a mystery shoppers scheme and continually consult with young people, parents and partners across Warwickshire.”
For more information about Warwickshire’s Respect Yourself Campaign or relationships and sexual health, visit http://www.respectyourself.info.