TEENAGE pregnancy rates have hit their lowest rate since records began.
Newly released data reveals in 2012 there were 24 pregnancies per 1,000 15 to 17-year-old girls in Warwickshire.
This represents a fall of a fifth from 2011 and two fifths cent from 1998 – the first year figures were published by the Office for National Statistics.
It also means the county is below the national average of 27 pregnancies per 1,000 girls in that age bracket.
The news has been welcomed by director of public health John Linnane.
“Teenage pregnancy can be associated with poor educational achievement, poor physical and mental health and social isolation, so it is vital this downward trend continues.
“Evidence shows us young people need comprehensive sex and relationship education in and out of school and targeted support for those most at risk.”
The council’s once controversial Respect Yourself campaign website – which aims to answer questions from young people about sex and relationships – was visited more than 175,000 times last year.
It is based on successful strategies employed in the Netherlands where the teenage pregnancy rate is the lowest in Europe, and its sex-positive approach acknowledges young people’s naturally curiosity.
Luke Carter, the campaign’s manager, added: “We’re not complacent, we are aware children of teenage parents are much more likely to experience factors such as low educational achievement or poverty.
“We are continuing to develop what we do, for instance piloting a new evidence based resource to support primary schools to deliver more effective relationships and sex education.”
