New figures reveal teenagers in the poorest areas are far more likely to become pregnant than their richer peers
Teenage girls living in Scotland’s poorest areas are five times more likely to get pregnant than better off girls.
Sexual health charity FPA (formerly the Family Planning Association) has called for more support for teenagers from poorer backgrounds following the releases of the latest statistics on teenage pregnancies.
Overall, the rate of teenage pregnancy in Scotland fell to an all-time low in 2014, continuing the trend which has seen a 40% drop in the last decade.
Teenagers who become parents are more likely to have poorer health, education, social and economic outcomes - Natika H Halil
However, 1,927 young women under 20 from Scotland’s poorest areas became pregnant in 2014 compared to just 394 young women from the more affluent areas.
FPA’s chief executive Natika H Halil said the decrease in pregnancies was to be welcomed and is due to targeted programmes that raise aspirations and help young pople think about they choices they want to make in life.
She added: “While not all teenage pregnancies are unwanted or unplanned, teenagers who become parents are more likely to have poorer health, education, social and economic outcomes, so it is vital we support young people to make decisions which are best for them.”
“It is also really important that the health, social and education professionals working in the areas which have not seen as much of a decrease have the resources they need to give young people all over Scotland equal access to information and support.”
The highest number of teenage pregnancies was in NHS Tayside, and Dundee remains the top city for teenage pregnancies.
Scottish Government public health minister Aileen Campbell said: “In March we published our pregnancy and parenthood in young people strategy, which aims to address the fundamental causes of pregnancy in young people by considering the wider factors that are key to supporting young people – such as education, attainment and employment.”
