Teenage pregnancy soars again
TORBAY'S teenage pregnancy rate has rocketed more than anywhere else in the country, latest figures reveal.
Bucking the national downward trend in women aged under 18 becoming pregnant over the past decade, the Bay actually saw a hike of almost 50 per cent.
Torbay also saw a significant increase on the year, while other areas saw a drop from a 'spike' in 2007.
The Government says it is 'disappointed' at the increase in Torbay, and revealed it wrote to the council at the end of last year to raise its concerns.
A total of 159 women under 18 fell pregnant in Torbay in 2008, up from 138 in 2007 figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
This gave an under-18 conception rate in 2008 of 64.9 per 1,000 women age 15 to 17 falling pregnant.
This is compared to 44.2 in 1998 — an increase of 47 per cent.
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "With such good progress in other areas in the South West, the increase in teenage conceptions in Torbay is particularly disappointing.
"In November we wrote to the council to outline our concerns and are aware Torbay has a very significant challenge ahead to reduce teenage pregnancies."
The latest figures come after Torbay Care Trust heard recently they should share a 'collective shame' for not reducing the number of teenage pregnancies.
Debbie Stark, Torbay's director of public health, stressed the Bay had made a 'huge investment' in sexual health services over the last two years.
In a statement she said: "While we of course want to see these figures reducing, it is vital that we do not simply apologise for the rise in conceptions and instead enable debate and discussion about sexual health to continue under the radar.
"These figures are extremely important to us because they represent young people whose lives have been irreversibly changed by abortion or giving birth."
Earlier this month, Dr Carol Tozer, Torbay Council's people commissioner, said it was unacceptable the Bay was seeing a rising number of under-18s becoming pregnant each year while figures elsewhere in the country are going down.
Following the release of the latest figures, she said: "We acknowledge that Torbay's performance around teenage conception is not good enough.
"Over the last 15 months we have refocused and galvanised our partnership work to reduce teenage conceptions.
"There is no single way to reduce teenage conceptions."
The next highest rate increase was 22 per cent in the London borough of Bromley, followed by Manchester, which saw an increase of 13.8 per cent in its teen pregnancy rate between 1998 and 2008.
Over the same period, Devon also went against the trend in decline and saw the rate increase slightly by 1.4 per cent from 32.9 to 33.4 pregnancies for every 1,000 girls.
The county rate also rose year-on-year from 30.1 in 2006, to 32.6 in 2007, and 33.4 in 2008.
Nationally, the pregnancy rate among girls under 18 has fallen.
Lib Dem MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders said: "The agencies in Torbay are doing the best they can coping with the symptoms of a bigger problem, which is about the aspirations of young people to want to go into further and higher education and delay pregnancy.
"And the reason why there's no aspiration in Torbay is directly related to our poor labour market and the prospects on offer to school leavers."
An economy with prospects would see a drop in the teenage pregnancy rate, he said.
He also wanted more initiatives targeted at teenage boys, as well as young women.
The spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said the Government was aware Torbay was 'committed to taking positive action'.
Dr Virginia Pearson, director of public health at NHS Devon, said: "Devon has very low rates of teenage pregnancy, well below both the South West and national averages.
"We are renewing our drive to reduce our rates even further, with strong messages to young people about the benefits of delaying early sex, first class relationships and sex education, and better access to professional advice about contraception."
Director of public heath, Debbie Stark, talks in depth about the issue of teenage sexual health — Page 9
11 Comments
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by Tom, The Bay
Saturday, February 27 2010, 5:02PM
“I don't think there is any one simple solution we should not generalise as the circumstances behind each pregnancy will be different. However one common fact is that each baby has to have a father and perhaps this is where more work could be done. There seems to be a toatal lack of respect and responsibility amongst some of the young male population.
It seems that a young lad can father as many children as he likes and escape all responsibility and critism. They after all are just as much to blame for the burden on the system. Perhaps if they knew that they would be forced to face up to their actions they might act in a more responsible way..”
by Ken, Elbury Cove
Friday, February 26 2010, 3:28PM
“Sorry, I thought the age of consent in this country was 16. So notwithstanding Devil's point about it being a sin (which I dosagree with anyway) what is fundamentally wrong with 16 and 17 year olds CHOOSING to have kids? What is wrong is that we decide to give them benefits, housing and support. As Sharon points out, most of these girls are probably too well educated in how to play the system rather than too poorly educated to know how to avoid pregnancy!
Not only an opportunity for sensational headlines but also an excuse to create spurious jobs for "experts" and support staff to "deal with the problem". And yes, no doubt there is a perception of celebrity status from being part of the headline.”
by Devil's advocaat, Torbay
Friday, February 26 2010, 11:12AM
“Strictly speaking, Charlotte, it is a "sin" (according to Christian definitions) if the child is born out of wedlock... The figures are a bit iffy though - they infer that every teenage pregnancy relates to children of school age, but some of the "teenagers" may well be married, in a relationship and living in a big house without any support from the state.”
by charlotte, torquay
Friday, February 26 2010, 12:40AM
“yh ok, teenage pregnancy isn't ideal, but its not a sin either, im 20 and just had my first baby, however one of my closest friends had her child at 15/16, she has turned out to be one of the best mums i have ever met, and shes at college trying her best, teenage pregnancy is something we will never avoid.”
by susan, Torquay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 8:13PM
“Why dont we do something really different - hostels provided and help with childcare to get them on their feet if not supported by families - otherwise like the rest of us work for it pay for it dont expect society to pay for the upkeep of your child!!”
by Julia, Torbay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 3:54PM
“So they want to know why Torbay's teen pregnancy rate is still on the increase..........blame the BBC. They filmed a documentary about Kizzy and gave the young mum "fame". How many of her school friends are now pregnant???? Young girls saw how much attention Kizzy received and her whole situation (whilst not the intention of the BBC) was glamorised in the eyes of her peers. It is a misguided thought but I can quite understand why lots of girls followed suit and had a baby just to get some attention themselves after all what "shame" is there for getting pregnant at such a young age if TV crews want to follow you around?”
by sharon, Torquay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 1:59PM
“I think the statistics should show whether or not the teenage pregnancies are with partner or not and whether or not married. As for the single mum pregnancies, a lot of these children have moved to the area with their parents and know they will never get a council house if they move out of their parents' home, what better way to do it than "be with child". It also means not having to work, it isn't about sex education and the ignorance of these girls. They know what they are doing and I would say more than half of them plan it that way just to get a house and be on state benefits for as long as they can. It is a way to opt out of the "being employed" system. It is all about getting money for nothing and it is hardly a sacrifice having a child. The majority of them will then go on to have further children by different fathers, this too is the best way to stay out of employment and not having to sign on........ That is the reality of it, not what the papers say.”
by Observer, Torquay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 1:46PM
“For a list of activities and youth groups, try the council website then forwardslash payp-activity”
by Diane, Torquay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 12:57PM
“There must be a lot of 'bored' teenage girls in the bay if they have nothing better to do than go multiply before they have reached and enjoyed their adulthood. Maybe more youth clubs and activites other than sex should be encouraged and supported.”
by Joe, torquay
Thursday, February 25 2010, 10:25AM
“Yeah ok, my other message should have said 60 and 40 ...”