TEEN PREGNANCIES SOAR
WORRIED health chiefs have struggled to curb the soaring teenage pregnancy rate in town - and it has now reached an all-time high.
The rate has now spiralled to 50.9 teenagers per thousand aged 15 to 17 falling pregnant, the highest in West Sussex - compared to the national rate of 48.
And experts reckon there is a link between areas where there is social deprivation and the rate of teenage pregnancies.
West Sussex Health Authority teenage pregnancies co-ordinator Kevin Grimwade said: Those conception rates generally follow deprivation factors.
Broadfield is high - it s the second highest ward in West Sussex.
Bewbush is not as high, it s a bit lower down the list.
They tend to be the ones where there are higher levels of social deprivation.
It s a national trend, where there is high social deprivation, there is always a much higher number of teenage mothers.
Crawley has both prosperous areas and those which are extremely deprived, but the health authority has planned an extensive strategy to combat the problem.
Last year shock figures revealed the town had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the whole of West Sussex.
Between 1995 and 1997 there were 48 pregnancies per thousand girls aged between 15 and 17 in the town and Crawley Primary Care Group doctors blamed ``deprived neighbourhoods in town.
Meanwhile Kevin revealed that plans are in their infancy to provide emergency contraception through schools and over the counter, a booklet offering advice and information is due to be issued later this year.
He said: Half the problem is teenagers do not know where they can get support and emergency contraception from, they can of course get help from Family Planning Centres and their GP s.
Broadfield councillor Jim McGough said: First of all I haven t seen the exact figures.
I never like to get Broadfield typecast but I am aware that pregnancies in Broadfield are high, but not the highest, and I won t make any moral judgement.
I think the solution generally lies in the field of education.
We re setting up an advice centre for young people as part of a number of initiatives to help.
Government initiative, Connexions hopes to secure a premises in Queens Square, town centre, which will offer support and information for teenagers.
Published: 16.5.01 West Sussex Newspapers Ltd
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Weather for Crawley
Saturday 04 February 2012
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