Blackpool along with all other local authority areas has a target to reduce under 18 teenage conception rates. Blackpool’s current rate is 66 per 1000, meaning that out of 1000 girls aged 15-1, 66 get pregnant.
The Government have set Blackpool a target to get this down to 29.1 per 1000 by the year 2010.
In order to achieve this, the Children’s Trust has prioritised Teenage Pregnancy and produced a Strategy as part of its Children’s Plan.
The Strategy concentrates on five main areas:
- Improved sexual health services for young people.
- Effective sex and relationship education.
- Training for professionals, parents and carers to enable discussion around sex and relationship issues with young people.
- Providing a strong youth service with a clear remit for working with young people around health issues.
- Identifying and targeting work to young people at risk of teenage pregnancy.
The Strategy is also committed to supporting teenage parents.
All young people are at risk of becoming pregnant if they have unprotected sex.
89.9% of pregnancies to teenage mothers were unplanned. Facing pregnancy as a teenager can be a terrifying experience. Once pregnant all choices are much more difficult and all will have a challenging impact on the young person.
Young people need to be encouraged to make the right choice at the beginning: of only having sex when they feel ready and always using a condom.
If you are a parent or a young person and need help or advice about teenage pregnancy or sex and relationships then please contact the team.
The following websites can provide help and advice:
R U thinking about it?
Like it is - aimed at teenagers
Parent Line Plus
Marie Stopes - birth control advice etc
Family Planning Advice
bpas - Abortion Care |