The Office for National Statistics has released data today which shows Oldham has the seventh highest reduction in teenage conceptions in the country despite latest figures showing a slight increase from a rate of 45.1 per 1000 of 15-17yr olds in 2006 to 46.7 in 2007, marking a 3.5% increase over the two years.
Between 1998 and 2007 Oldham had the second highest reduction for teenage pregnancies in the North West, (29.4%)
Oldham’s Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator Sharon West, comments. ‘Despite a slight increase in teenage conceptions our overall performance makes us the seventh best performing partnership in the country, which is a jump from ninth last year. This means we are still on course to meet the government’s target of halving teenage conceptions by 2010, and gives us confidence that the services and communication we have with young people in Oldham is accessible and appropriate. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver services for young people that are both accessible and appropriate.’
Over the past 12 months we have:
- Ensured our young people receive appropriate advice and guidance on sex and relationships by delivering sexual health training to the professionals they come into contact with, including teachers, youth workers, and Connexions staff.
- Helped parents develop skills to enable them to talk to their teenagers about sex and relationship issues with confidence, promoting national initiatives such as parentline and supporting the recent campaign targeting leaflets in pharmacies encouraging parents to talk to their children.
- Appointed a Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lead for secondary schools, who will ensure schools are supported to deliver quality Sex and relationship education
- Worked with a key partner, Brook, to ensure young people have access to young people friendly accessible and confidential contraceptive services six days a week.
- Provided access to free condoms in venues which young people access across the borough.
Oldham’s teenage pregnancy strategy also aims to give support to teenage parents to ensure they don’t suffer from social exclusion and prevent repeat pregnancies.
This year Oldham opened the North West’s first Targeted Youth Support Centre (at Positive Steps Oldham) which, amongst other things, provides teenage parents the chance to meet with others through a young parents drop in, receive ongoing support from health professionals including contraceptive services, and, if required, teenage parents can access all of their antenatal care at The Centre.
Oldham’s Teenage Pregnancy Partnership is a multi-agency board made up of representatives from Oldham Council, Oldham Primary Care Trust, Pennine Acute Trust, Positive Steps Oldham and the voluntary sector.
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For more information contact Nyree Hood, Marketing and Communications Officer on 0161 621 9395
