Fall in number of underage abortions

Tayside shaking off its image as the teenage pregnancy capital of Scotland

Tayside is shaking off its unfortunate reputation as the teenage pregnancy and abortion capital of Scotland.

Latest figures show a year-on-year decrease in underage abortions over the past five years.

In 2016, 13 girls under 16 in the region opted for a termination – nearly half as many as in 2011, when there were 24.

The highest number of teenage abortions in 2016 was in Fife, 144, followed by Dundee, 89.

Perth and Kinross had 52, while Angus had the lowest number at 32.

A report prepared for the Information Services Division explained: “In general, termination rates are highest in urban east coast boards – NHS Fife, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside – and lowest in the island and the more rural boards of mainland Scotland.

“There continued to be a strong association between deprivation and termination rates. While rates across the deprivation groups have generally been decreasing or remained relatively stable, since 2013 a widening gap has been evident between women from the most and least deprived areas.”

Tayside has the highest overall rate of abortions for all age groups in Scotland at 13.6 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, compared to a Scottish average of 11.6.

Rachel Macdonald of Alternatives Dundee, a charity supporting women through pregnancy and/or termination, said: “Alternatives Dundee Youth support is amongst a number of Dundee agencies offering support to young people that goes beyond sex education, focusing on emotional wellbeing and self-esteem.

“We believe that when young people feel confident in who they are they are more likely to make safe sexual choices.

“Making a decision about a pregnancy is always very difficult and it is vital that women are supported to make the decision that is right for them.”

NHS Tayside’s executive lead for sexual health and blood borne virus, Mrs Ann Eriksen, said: “The contributing factors for abortion are complex; however, it is well established that abortion is more common in the most deprived populations and, as Dundee has some of the most deprived populations in Scotland, we can expect higher rates of abortion than in other areas.

“Reducing health inequalities and ensuring access to appropriate care for those at highest risk is a priority for NHS Tayside.”