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Drive to curb teen pregnancy rate Drive to curb teen pregnancy rate
(9 minutes later)
Young people are to be offered a much broader range of contraception in a drive to bring down England's high teenage pregnancy rate.Young people are to be offered a much broader range of contraception in a drive to bring down England's high teenage pregnancy rate.
The multi-million pound campaign will seek to improve access not just to the Pill and condoms, but also raise awareness of the longer term options.The multi-million pound campaign will seek to improve access not just to the Pill and condoms, but also raise awareness of the longer term options.
Implants and jabs last up to five years without any extra effort by the user.Implants and jabs last up to five years without any extra effort by the user.
Although the teenage pregnancy rate in Britain is falling in many areas, it remains the highest in Western Europe.Although the teenage pregnancy rate in Britain is falling in many areas, it remains the highest in Western Europe.
Launching the campaign at the Association for Young People's Health, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said £14m will be made available to regional health authorities who come up with "innovative" pilot schemes for promoting contraception among the young.Launching the campaign at the Association for Young People's Health, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said £14m will be made available to regional health authorities who come up with "innovative" pilot schemes for promoting contraception among the young.
These will be required to focus on areas with high or increasing rates of teenage pregnancy.These will be required to focus on areas with high or increasing rates of teenage pregnancy.
Young men as well as women will be targeted in campaigns promoting condom use.Young men as well as women will be targeted in campaigns promoting condom use.
A further £12.8m will go directly to Primary Care Trusts, to spend on contraceptive services as they see appropriate.A further £12.8m will go directly to Primary Care Trusts, to spend on contraceptive services as they see appropriate.
In 2005, there were 39,804 conceptions by under-18s in England, a rate of 41.3 per thousand.In 2005, there were 39,804 conceptions by under-18s in England, a rate of 41.3 per thousand.
These figures are twice as high as in Germany, three times as high as in France and six times as high as in the Netherlands.These figures are twice as high as in Germany, three times as high as in France and six times as high as in the Netherlands.
Brook Advisory Centres said it "welcomed any move to provide young people with more information about contraception.Brook Advisory Centres said it "welcomed any move to provide young people with more information about contraception.
"We encourage young people to talk to health professionals about their choices. Hormonal contraceptives should always be coupled with condoms.""We encourage young people to talk to health professionals about their choices. Hormonal contraceptives should always be coupled with condoms."
The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (TPIAG) said it too welcomed the news.
"It is excellent that the Department of Health has acknowledged young people's very real need for accessible contraceptive services and we hope this investment will offset some of the damage done by closure of community family planning clinics in many local areas."