Teenage pregnancy rates to keep falling in Telford
Teenage pregnancy rates across Telford are on course to remain at an all time low for the borough but still higher than the national average new statistics have revealed.
Figures for the first half of 2012 show there were 62 pregnancies across the borough among women under 18, though there are no figures yet available for the full year. For the whole of 2011 there were 126 conceptions, the lowest rate since figures were first published in 1992. In 2010 the figure was 165.
Council bosses say these new outline figures for the first half of 2012 are consistent with the previous year, but still significantly higher than in England as a whole.
Rates of conception in under 18s nationally is 30.7 per 1,000 people, while in Telford & Wrekin is 34.7 per 1,000.
In a report on reducing teenage pregnancy by Stacey Norwood, commissioning specialist at Telford & Wrekin, said: "For some young people, becoming a parent is a positive choice. However, teenage pregnancy is often associated with poor health and social outcomes for mother and child.
"Young mothers are more likely to suffer postnatal depression and less likely to complete their education, more likely to live in poverty and more likely to become teenage parents themselves.
"In Telford & Wrekin, rates of teenage pregnancy have historically been high over the past two decades. Although the recent decline in numbers is promising, the rate in 2011 remained significantly worse than the national average for England.
"Reducing the number of teenage pregnancies is one of the board's ten priorities."
The figures come after it was revealed earlier this year that Shropshire has the lowest teenage pregnancy rate in the West Midlands.
The Office for National Statistics figures revealed the number of conceptions per 1,000 females aged under 18 years old in Shropshire was 23.7 in 2011, compared to 23.9 in 2010.
In the next year, Telford & Wrekin Council is planning to invest £1.05 million in sexual health services, of which £38,000 is being put aside for council services for teenage pregnancy.
Despite this investment, the highest rate of under-18 conceptions are seen within the most disadvantaged wards, including Woodside and Brookside.
