ONGAR: Teen abortion highest in UK

By labrown

TEENAGERS in Ongar who fall pregnant are more likely to turn to abortion than girls anywhere else in the country.

Over a two-year period, 78 per cent of conceptions among under-18s in Epping Forest District ended in abortion, the highest rate in England and Wales and 10 per cent higher than in the preceding two years.

The figures released by the Office for National Statistics relate to 2005 – 2007 and reveal that there were 188 conceptions for under-18s, 147 of which ended in abortion.

Health improvement specialist Athena Daniels believes the fact our teenagers are realising the downsides of becoming a parent at an early age could be the reason why the figure is so high.

Ms Daniels, of NHS West Essex, said: "Clearly, more local pregnant teenagers are deciding not to go ahead with their pregnancies and may be becoming aware of the full implications of parenthood.

"Higher aspirations may also be a factor.

"For those who choose to become teenage parents, life is hard, with outcomes for them and their children often very poor. That is why efforts are also being made to provide the right support to improve the welfare of both the teenage parents and the children."

NHS West Essex is commissioning local initiatives in line with the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, which aims to halve the rate of conceptions among under-18s by 2010.

In Epping Forest, conceptions continue to rise. Figures show a 13 per cent rise on the preceding two years, when there were 164 pregnancies.

However, the rate per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17, as teen pregnancy is measured, is only 26.2, which is well below the national average of 41.7.

Felicia Dilonell, manager of Lloyds Chemist in Ongar High Street, believes the low rate can be attributed to the fact that girls are open with their parents.

She said: "I see a lot of teenagers under the age of 16 coming in with their prescriptions for contraceptives. Some are about 13 or 14 and come in with their mothers."

As well as running its own initiatives, NHS West Essex is working closely with Essex County Council to roll out a new programme of Sex and Relationships Education in schools.

The aim is to increase access to sexual health services and contraception for young people, by offering services at alternative young people's venues. There are also plans to increase outlets available for free condom distribution and access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and emergency hormonal contraception.

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing said: "No one would encourage an abortion but, when a girl is in a difficult position and the pregnancy is early on, it is important that choice is available.

"Motherhood is a wonderful thing, but if it occurs at the wrong time, when a girl feels she is too young to take responsibility for another person's life 24 hours a day, seven days a week then it's pretty tough."