Teen pregnancy rates to be tackled
PLANS to tackle high rates of teenage pregnancies will be addressed in a forthcoming sexual health strategy, a leading consultant has said.
According to the latest island health profile, Guernsey had more than double the number of teenage pregnancies that Jersey experienced.
Statistics showed that there were 87 under-18 pregnancies in Guernsey and Alderney between 2010-2012 – an average of 29 per year – and 27.8 per 1,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 17.
There were also 13 under the age of 16.
By comparison, Jersey's under-18 conception rate stood at 11.4 per 1,000, less than half that of all the English regions as well as Guernsey and Alderney.
Dr Nikki Brink, pictured, works at the Sexual Health Unit, also know as the Orchard Clinic.
'Our rates are in line with the UK equivalent and what is really interesting is if we look at the rates for 2008 they have come down a lot,' she said.
'That is encouraging to see but we would always strive to do better and I would like to see the rates for under-18 conception come down.
'I think the number of teenage pregnancies are down to a number of factors, including the accessibility of services and perhaps they are not aware of the resources out there.'
