Alarm over East Lancashire's teenage abortions rise (From Blackburn Citizen)
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Alarm over East Lancashire's teenage abortions rise
9:44am Tuesday 11th October 2011 in News
WORRY Abortion figures have risen
THE number of women having abortions has risen in East Lancashire — with a ‘worrying’ number of young girls undergoing the procedure.
Fourteen abortions were undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger last year across the area.
Coun Ron O’Keeffe, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health watchdog, said abortion was “a major problem in the borough”, especially in deprived areas.
He said: “It’s a major concern that so many young girls are becoming pregnant. The council is trying to overcome this and bring the numbers down by working hard with schools.
“Abortions are the last thing that girls should go through.”
Department of Health data showed that there were 1,231 abortions in 2010 in NHS East Lancashire’s five boroughs — Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale — compared to 1,169 the year before.
In Blackburn with Darwen women underwent 516 abortions, compared to 484 in 2009.
Four abortions were undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger last year.
There were 10 by 15-year-olds, 10 by 16-year-olds and 24 by 17-year-olds.
Statistics for NHS East Lancashire showed that there was a slight reduction in abortions undertaken by children, with a fall from 163 in 2009 to 156 in 2010.
It recorded 10 abortions undertaken by girls aged 14 and younger, 25 by 15-year-olds, 51 by 16-year-olds and 70 by 17-year-olds last year.
Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen’s executive member for children’s services, said part of Blackburn’s new Barbara Castle Way Health Centre would be dedicated to young people.
She said: “There is also a lot being done in schools. There are a lot of issues and we teach young people about safe sex and relationships.”
Kelly Taylor, NHS East Lancashire’s sexual health commissioning manager, said it was promoting different contraceptive methods with colleges.
She said: “In times of financial and social hardship you would expect an increase in risk taking behaviour and of course it is impossible to totally prevent unwanted pregnancies.
“LARC methods are more cost effective at one year of use than other methods of contraception. These include the intrauterine device contraceptive implant and contraceptive injection.
“These are ideal for young people and those with chaotic lifestyles as these methods take away the need to remember contraception.”
She said the number of women accessing LARC from GP surgeries and sexual health services including Brook had increased from 12,147 in 2007/08 to 15,086 in 2010/11.
Comments(16)
AnthonyUK
says...
10:17am Tue 11 Oct 11
happycyclist
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10:38am Tue 11 Oct 11
BacupBoy
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10:40am Tue 11 Oct 11
Atticman
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12:13pm Tue 11 Oct 11
happycyclist wrote:The murder of an innocent Life is a good thing. Preventions is better than cure. Not murder.
With the world population nearing 7 billion, it could be argued that a "worrying" abortion rate is actually a good thing.
happycyclist
says...
1:51pm Tue 11 Oct 11
Atticman wrote:It's not murder.
happycyclist wrote:The murder of an innocent Life is a good thing. Preventions is better than cure. Not murder.
With the world population nearing 7 billion, it could be argued that a "worrying" abortion rate is actually a good thing.
That might be your opinion, but that's all it is and the law doesn't agree with your definition just yet.
I agree that prevention is better than cure, but if something can't be prevented then damage limitation is the next best thing.
Atticman
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2:29pm Tue 11 Oct 11
There are people out there desperate for children. But you think abortion is not murder. Shame on you.
district01
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3:06pm Tue 11 Oct 11
The world is overcrowded as it is. Make abortion a recognised profession for those stupid enough as to have to have something they didn‘t want. You could have your eyes done at the same time?
Sorry, have to go to join that long queue!
Ian123xyz
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5:59pm Tue 11 Oct 11
loopylass
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6:03pm Tue 11 Oct 11
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
7:38pm Tue 11 Oct 11
l m h jones
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8:01pm Tue 11 Oct 11
Excluded again
says...
9:28pm Tue 11 Oct 11
When I were a lad, it took two to make a baby. Clearly things have moved on and it is now just women involved, without any men at all. That must be the reason why no-one thinks men have any responsibility for pregnancy.
Atticman
says...
9:43pm Tue 11 Oct 11
l m h jones wrote:I'm not accusing the women. I'm accusing the authority that allow abortion. Some of these people have a lot of blood on their hands.
of 516 abortions 25 were in the age group up to and including 16 years. 15 abortions were for children aged under 16 years. i may be old but surely these 15 girls are legally under the age of concent and therefore victims of child abuse themselves? the numbers of the 516 total also dont take into account those parents who have had a diagnosis of potentially profound disabilities to the foetus Atticman whilst my heart genuinely grieves for your losses do not assume that termination is an easy option and to brand women who take this route as child killers is outrageous.
I don't expect people who don't take responsibility to avoid unwanted pregnacy to have the ability to step up to the mark when it comes to taking responsibility for the outcome. But like everything these days we think we as a society have an easy way out.
It's taking a life it's murder. Simple as that. And all parties concerned will carry the cost one way or the other. Who are we to take life. Whether it's in the womb or on a saturday night or on a football terrace or with a bomb strapped to your back.
fabinribblevalley
says...
7:39pm Thu 13 Oct 11
Atticman
says...
12:51am Fri 14 Oct 11
fabinribblevalley wrote:Good point. Desensitising it to make it more acceptable.
Not my subject really but I feel I have to comment. When watching the soaps like Corrie and Emmerdale (actually I don't watch but my wife does) they make it seem like an alternative every day option all the the girls become pregnant and trip down to the clinic like nipping out for a pint. Can't you see why this trend is becoming fashionable.
district01 says...
9:51am Tue 11 Oct 11
Read the instructions on the tin!