Acclaim over dip in teenage pregnancies (From Gazette Series)

Acclaim over dip in teenage pregnancies

A PILOT scheme aimed at cutting teenage pregnancies in Dursley has been declared an outright success after new figures revealed a massive drop in the number of young girls having babies. The town's May Lane health surgery adopted a Government-backed text messaging initiative whereby staff would reply to young worried girls with helpful and confidential advice.

COMPARED to our European neighbours, the rate of teenage pregnancy in Britain is staggering.

Our figures are twice as high as Germany, three times as high as France and five times higher than the Netherlands.

In England alone, approximately 39,000 girls aged below 18 become pregnant each year, with just under half having abortions.

The sight of a young girl pushing a pram along a high street has become common but is one the government is keen to attack as part of a ten-year programme to halve under-18 pregnancies by 2010.

It has recently stepped up its efforts to promote contraception among young people and highlight the pitfalls of teenage pregnancy by launching pilot schemes throughout the country. One of these is a text message service, adopted by Dursley's May Lane Health Surgery and according to new figures it has worked. Teenage pregnancies have fallen by 17.7 percent since 1998 across the county - compared to a national average of 11.1 percent.

Debbie Harvey, Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust head of sexual health, said: "This is excellent news for Gloucestershire.

"It demonstrates how effectively a whole host of organisations have been working as a county with teenagers to raise awareness of safe sex and the risks of pregnancy."

May Lane Health Surgery piloted the national text message scheme last year. It worked by staff encouraging under-18s to send their questions via text messages. Health centre staff would then send back confidential advice.

GPs also made regular visits to nearby Rednock School.

Dr Simon Opher, from the surgery, said: "Dursley has been above the national average and therefore we have an issue.

"We have tried to address the problem by going to teach in Rednock School to help enable pupils overcome their fears of visiting the surgery.

"If a young person asks for advice about contraception then we deal with it confidentially - even if they are aged below 16.

"On the spot pregnancy tests are available - as well as free condoms - and you don't have to be registered with us to access this advice.

"Education is key to reducing teenage pregnancy rates but often teenagers are not aware that there are morning after pills, which can be taken within three days of having unprotected sex."

The school has made sex education a part of its mainstream programme and ensured all pupils take part in personal and social health education.

Year 9 and sixth form students also receive regular visits by health professionals like those from May Lane surgery.

Nigel Meredith, head of student guidance at the school, said: "Students are able to see doctors and nurses on regular occasions. They know their faces and find them a lot more accessible."

Other organisations like Cam-based GL11 Group and Dursley Youth Service have also played an important community role in addressing teenage pregnancy locally.

Diane Williams, who set up Cam Congregational Church's support group for single mums and dads, said: "These new figures are encouraging though as they show that young people are receiving a better social education and taking precautions.

"If people need support they can always visit us. Ultimately though, people are best off waiting for the right moment before they have children."