Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011
In 2009, there were 123 teenage pregnancies
in those under the age of 18 in North
Somerset. Of these, 53% resulted in a
termination of pregnancy. The number of
pregnancies in those aged under 16 is small,
averaging 20 a year between 2006 and 2008.
Approximately two thirds of these
pregnancies were terminated.
In North Somerset approximately 69% of
teenage parents known to Connexions (an
advice service for 13-19 years olds) are not in
education, training or employment 18 .
What are we doing about it?
Preventing teenage pregnancies not only
results in better outcomes for young people
and their children, it also saves money. It is
estimated that every £1 spent on a teenage
pregnancy strategy saves £4 in the long term.
North Somerset has an action plan which sets
out how teenage pregnancies will be reduced
locally. The plan draws on evidence of what
works, and co-ordinates actions across North
Somerset Council, the local NHS and other
organisations. Action to reduce teenage
pregnancy is also recognised in the local Child
Poverty Strategy. Specific actions to reduce
teenage pregnancy in North Somerset include:
● An award winning teenage health service
‘No Worries! Teenage Health’, providing
advice and contraception to young people
including an outreach ‘clinic in a box’
service;
● LUSH - a targeted sex and relationship
programme for vulnerable young people in
areas of high teenage pregnancy which
aims to raise young people’s self esteem
and reduce risk taking behaviour;
● Intensive health visitor support for teenage
parents in Weston-super-Mare.
Reducing teenage pregnancy will only be
possible if action is also taken to address the
underlying factors, such as poverty,
educational underachievement, low
aspirations and lack of engagement in
learning after the age of 16.
Continued provision of good sex and
relationship education in and out of
educational settings is also essential. The
amount and quality of sex and relationship
education currently delivered in educational
settings such as schools is unclear. There is
also uncertainty about the impact of funding
cuts to services which currently contribute to
reducing teenage conceptions.
Understanding the risks: Poverty
Teenage pregnancy rates nationally and in
North Somerset are closely linked to levels
of poverty. Although levels of deprivation
in North Somerset are generally low, some
areas experience very high levels of
deprivation. According to a national measure
of deprivation, the Indices of Multiple
Deprivation 2010, Weston-super-Mare has
areas in Central and South Ward in the 10%
most deprived nationally. Some areas in South
Ward are now in the 1% most deprived. We
need to tackle poverty as part of our overall
action plan if we are to reduce teenage
pregnancy.
18
Connexions: Raising the Participation Age report July 2011
20