WUNRN
4
August 2009
UK-London
- One in 13 Teenage Girls Pregnant |
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In Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham and Haringey more than 70 out of every thousand girls aged between 15 and 17 are becoming pregnant. That compares with a national rate of 41 out of every thousand, a report by the London Assembly highlighted. Report author James Cleverly said more must be done to reverse the trend. The figures show a huge variation in teenage pregnancy rates across the capital.
Girls in Southwark, the
borough with the highest rates, are five times more likely to conceive than
teenagers from The committee's report blamed insufficient sex education and a lack of leadership for the situation. They recommended that sex education be a core component of school curriculums and suggested appointing a "sexual health champion". Mr Cleverly, chairman of the London Assembly health and public services committee, said: "Young Londoners' sexual health is a major public health issue for the capital. "Teenage pregnancies can have serious consequences for young people's health and life chances, as well as placing strain on NHS resources." He added: "Our
investigation shows that young Londoners' sexual health remains worryingly
poor. More must be done."
'Clueless' The report also found the
number of Lisa Power, corporate head
of policy at sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said many young
people in "Providing quality sex
and relationships education in "It's also crucial
that services are designed to be young people friendly and geared up to meet
their needs." |
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