Teenage pregnancy targets still in sight

Teenage pregnancy rates have fallen for the third year running.
Conceptions among under 18 year olds were 3 per cent down in 2001
compared with the previous year. There has been a 9 per cent
reduction since 1998. Conception rates among girls under 16 fell by
4.5 per cent last year and by 10 per cent over three years.

The NHS Plan and the Labour election manifesto set a target of
15 per cent reduction in teenage pregnancies by 2004. The teenage
pregnancy strategy is aiming to halve the rate by 2010, and to
increase to 60 per cent the participation of teenage parents in
education and work.

Public health minister Hazel Blears, announcing an extra
£40m to support the strategy, said: “The 9 per cent reduction
over three years reflects an enormous amount of work and commitment
at a local level towards helping more young people make safe,
informed choices and towards supporting teenage parents to improve
the quality of life for them and their children.”

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