SHOCKING new figures reveal teenage pregnancies in Hyndburn are among the worst in the country.
Despite a campaign to cut the number of teenage pregnancies, girls from Hyndburn are THREE times more likely to get pregnant than their contemporaries living in Ribble Valley and almost TWICE as likely become pregnant than the average UK teenager.
In 2000, 60 in every 1,000 15 to 17-year-olds living in Hyndburn became pregnant - while just 17 out of 1,000 became pregnant in areas like Clitheroe and Whalley. The stunning pregnancy figures put Hyndburn in the top 10 per cent in the country.
Wendy Stone is the Lancashire co-ordinator for the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership which has brought together health, education, youth and social services in a bid to reduce the teen pregnancies.
She said: "Research suggests that there are certain factors which make some young people more susceptible. Teenage pregnancy is linked with deprivation. Vulnerable children who are socially excluded, perhaps regular truants, are more likely to become pregnant. The children of teenage mothers are also more likely to become teenage mothers themselves."
Resources are focused on problem areas and in Hyndburn, the partnership co-ordinates step-in clinics at Accrington Youth Information Shop and the Primetime Centre in Rishton offering sexual health information, contraception and support.
Mrs Stone believes Hyndburn is beginning to see the results of educational work in the schools and the provision of the clinics. As yet no school in the borough has followed the example of Bacup's Fearns High School in offering free morning-after contraceptive pills.
She added: "There is a strong recommendation from Ofsted in favour, but no decisions have been taken in Hyndburn."
