Teen Pregnancy Rates Down In Bristol

Thursday, February 25th 2010 07:00

The latest government figures have revealed teenage pregnancy rates in the city fell by 4.5% from 2007 to 2008.

The provisional 2008 under 18 conception rate for Bristol was 48.7 per 1000 girls aged 15 to 17, that's a decrease of 4.5% from the previous year. That's 51 less young women becoming pregnant.

The reduction is being attributed to a citywide team including Bristol City Council, Bristol NHS, Connexions and Brook who have worked in partnership to reduce conception rates by developing 4YP sexual health services and improving provision of sex and relationships education.

Initatives include having specialist health nurses working with young women who have previously conceived to develop a tailored contraception plan. Brook have staff working with young men and vulnerable young people and one of the biggest successes has been the development of Brook 4YP sexual health drop-ins in 24 secondary schools in Bristol.

A consultant in sex and relationship education has been co-ordinating the training of teachers, to deliver better quality sex education in schools. Since 2005, 169 teachers and 20 nurses have been trained as part of the city's personal, social and health education programme.

Bristol NHS also undertook research on what parents attitudes were to teen sex. Mums and dads asked for a new website and leaflets giving advice on talking to their children about growing up, relationships and sex.

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Co-ordinator at NHS Bristol Anne Colquhoun, said: "Reducing teenage pregnancy remains a priority. 4YP Bristol services have grown over the last year and we now have hundreds of services for young people across the city, which are free, confidential and friendly.

"This includes clinics, doctors surgeries, pharmacies and school drop-ins, providing young people with a range of services such as counselling, contraception, STI treatment and pregnancy tests."

When we asked her about the drop in teenage pregnancy rates she added: "we want to reduce it even further. If we had 51 reductions this year we'd like double that next year, but it does require everybody to work together to do that."