More young girls falling pregnant Growing concern for girls under 16
Higher numbers from more deprived areas
Lanarkshire has one of the highest rates of under-16 pregnancies in Scotland.
New figures reveal that 42 girls aged between 13 and 15 got pregnant in 2016.
And most under-16 pregnancies resulted in a termination.
The pregnancy statistics rose significantly, up from 29 the previous year to 42.
Among females aged 15 to 17, there were 243 pregnancies in 2016 – up from 229 the previous year.
And among females aged 15 to 19, there were 654 pregnancies in 2016 – up slightly from 645 in 2015.
The latest government data, for the year ending 2016, was released last week.
And the report said: “Many teenage women experience unintended or unwanted pregnancies, although for some this may be planned and a positive life choice.
“Scotland has historically had a higher rate of teenage pregnancy than most other Northern and Western European countries and reducing unintended teenage pregnancy is a priority for the Scottish Government.”
Across South Lanarkshire, there were 56 under-16 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016, while there were 68 in neighbouring North Lanarkshire.
Among females aged 15 to 17, there were 344 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016 in South Lanarkshire, with another 401 in North Lanarkshire.
And among females ages 15 to 19, there were 302 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016 in South Lanarkshire, while North Lanarkshire had 352.
Across Lanarkshire as a whole, the 42 under-16 pregnancies equates to 3.9 girls out of 1000 in that age bracket getting pregnant.
That is the third-highest rate out of Most under-16 pregnancies in Lanarkshire result in terminations.
Of the 42 pregnancies among girls aged 13 to 15, there were 20 deliveries and 22 terminations.
Out of the 243 pregnancies among females aged 15 to 17, there were 127 deliveries and 116 terminations.
And of the 654 pregnancies among those aged 15 to 19, there were 376 deliveries and 278 terminations.
The government figures also divide Lanarkshire into five levels of deprivation
Out of the pregnancies among females aged 15 to 17, a total of 104 babies came from the most deprived category.
Another 80 came from the next deprived category, followed by 27. No mothers aged under 18 delivered babies from the two least deprived categories in Lanarkshire.
The report says:“there is a strong correlation between deprivation and teenage pregnancy. Deprivation area is calculated using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) which is an area-based measurement of multiple deprivation. Areas are divided into five groups, each consisting of approximately 20 per cent of the population, with decreasing levels of deprivation in each.”
It adds:“teenage pregnancy rates have decreased in recent years and this has occurred across all levels of deprivation.
“In 2016, the teenage pregnancy rate in Scotland was 31.6 per 1,000 women; however, rates varied depending on where Scotland’s dozen health boards. Fife is the highest at 4.9 per 100, followed by Tayside on 4.1 per 1000. The Scottish average is 3.1 per 1000.
Among those aged 15 to 17, there were 21.9 pregnancies out of every 1000 females across Lanarkshire in 2016. The Scottish average is 18.9 per 1000.
And among those aged 15 to 19, there were 35.2 pregnancies out of every 1000 females in 2016. The Scottish average is 31.6 per 1000. a woman lived. Moving through the five deprivation areas from most to least deprived, the rate of teenage pregnancy decreased with each area of reduced deprivation. Those living in the areas of highest deprivation had pregnancy rates five times higher than those in the least deprived areas (58.9 compared to 11.8 per 1000).”
Those aged under 20 and living in the most deprived areas are more likely to deliver than to terminate their pregnancy.
In contrast, those living in the least deprived areas are more likely to terminate their pregnancy than to go on to deliver.