Teen 'pregnancy strategy not working'
Doctors have hit out at Lincolnshire's strategy to prevent teen pregnancies – after reports of a 12-year-old dad put the issue back into the spotlight.
The situation of Alfie Patten from East Sussex, who allegedly fathered baby Maisie with a 14-year-old, has prompted Lincolnshire GPs to speak out.
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Figures from the Tackling Teenage Pregnancy team reveal more teenage girls are getting pregnant.
And more are having abortions than the national average.
Despite the county service receiving an annual budget of £255,000, latest statistics reveal that in 2006 there were 35.9 conceptions per 1,000 girls under the age of 18 in Lincolnshire compared to 34.8 in 2005.
And 28 per cent of county abortions carried out in 2007 were on girls aged 19 and under – a total of 446 out of 1,593.
GP Dr Paddy Twomey, medical secretary of Lincolnshire's Local Medical Committee, said: "I know there are a lot of schemes going to tackle teenage pregnancy but there are also the statistics showing that something is not working."
Kirsty Sutherland (19), of Lincoln has a 19-month-old daughter, Chelsea, and a nine-month old son Jack.
"It's hard work but I find it fun having kids," she said.
"I think girls often know they're pregnant and put it to the back of their minds until they start showing. I'd tell Chelsea not to have children as young as I did but if she did I'd be there for her."
For more on the county's teen mums, see Thursday's Echo.
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by Teenage mum, Nr Lincoln
Friday, February 27 2009, 3:11PM
“i am appauled by 'JODIE'S' comment, i myself have 2 wonderful children, both of whom were concieved whilst i was 16 and 17 years of age..i am now 21. i have never claimed any benefits my husband( and might i add father to my two children) the only think i have claimed is child benefit (AKA family allowence) i have never lived in a council house either, and believe it or not i lived on St.Giles for 17 years!!! i concieved both times whilst being responsible and using protection, the pill and the coil. i am 21, married, have 2 children, buying my house in a much sought after village near Lincoln and am training to become a midwife! not bad ay considering i am one of these disgusting things they call teenage mothers! i would also like to add that having my children was my choice, and i had exellent sex education by my parents, but i played with matches and got burnt...me not my parents it was my choice to have sex, and carry on with the pregnancies.
i hope i have cleared your narrow minded view on teenage pregnancy, please don't judge us all the same.”
by Jonny, Lincoln
Thursday, February 19 2009, 4:13PM
“It was taboo previously and that was far worse with single mums cast into special homes or to convents.
This is a by product of a thankfuly more liberated Britain. A more sensible and open approach needs to be given. On the one hand we have more liberated teenagers sleeping with each other, on the other we have prudish parents denying it happens. Just look at what happened with the introduction of giving the cervical cancer injection. Until we approach this with the acknowledgement that teenagers, your teenagers, have sex we are going to get no where.”
by Jodie, Lincoln
Thursday, February 19 2009, 3:15PM
“Girls have babies to trap there man, get a free home and get money every week! Its clear! Maybe they should stop getting all the money and housing and they would think twice about having a baby. It disguests me when i see kids under the age of 18 having children they just sponge of people who work dam hard and wait till they have there own home there in love and ready to bring up a child in a happy and secure enviroment. They need to think twice”
by Mandi, Nr Lincoln
Thursday, February 19 2009, 2:47PM
“To add to my comment earlier, i think boys should be made to do this too so they can also see the effects of their actions!!”
by Mandi, Nr Lincoln
Thursday, February 19 2009, 2:46PM
“I think maybe there should be some sort of surveys done to ask the girls why they got pregnant and chose to keep the baby, then we may have a bit more understanding than just presuming it is because of broken homes or rebellion.
I also think girls, at a young age, during secondary school maybe, should have trips to a specialised house of some kind, for maybe a 2 week period, where parents are willing to hand their babies over to show girls what it is really like to have a baby. Obviously, the parents of the baby will stay there to watch over them, but then maybe these girls will not just see it as fun and take on the consequences seriously.”