'Target under 16s to cut teenage pregnancies'

Wednesday 23 January 2013

'Target under 16s to cut teenage pregnancies'

Stewart Paterson

Political Reporter

INCREASED efforts to cut teenage pregnancies must be targeted at under-16s, health bosses have been told.

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By STEWART PATERSON Political Correspondent

While rates of pregnancies for the 18-20 age group have fallen in recent years the rate for under-16s has remained the same.

The Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee heard evidence from sexual health officials from the Scottish Government and health boards, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

They suggested that progress had been made, and a reduction target was only narrowly missed.

However, committee conv-ener Duncan McNeill, told officials that progress was in the upper teenage group, where pregnancies may well be planned and less of a problem, but efforts had not impacted on the numbers of under-16 pregnancies.

He said: "Where there has not been progress is in the younger age group," and he asked if there needed to be a shift in where resources are targeted.

The committee visited a programme in Glasgow this week where young parents are supported to continue their education. The MSPs met parents who attend the Young Parents Support Base in Smithycroft Secondary School who told of their experience of support services.

At the hearing it was suggested underage pregnancy can be a result of community factors and higher rates are linked to deprivation.

Figures reported in the Evening Times earlier this month showed Glasgow, while not the highest in Scotland, has a higher than average rate of babies born to teenagers and to under-16s.

In the city, the rate of under-16s becoming pregnant was 8.8 per 1000 girls, higher than the Scottish average of 7.4 but lower than the highest, in Dundee at 14.4.

Gareth Brown, head of Scottish Government sexual health team, said: "A teenage parent is not necessarily a bad parent and while we are looking at efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies we do not want to stigmatise anyone."

Deputy convener of the Health and Sport Committee, Bob Doris MSP, praised the efforts being made in Smithycroft Secondary School. He said: "The Young Parents Support Base is an outstanding example of what can be achieved."

Deborah Blackhurst, base co-ordinator of the Young Parents Support Base, said: "The Young Parents Support Base is about giving Glasgow's young mothers and fathers the support they need to develop positive parenting skills."

stewart.paterson@ heraldandtimes.co.uk

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