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Teenage pregnancies at lowest level 'since 1994'


By Staff Reporter

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TEEN pregnancies in Scotland are at the lowest level since 1994, according to new statistics.

In 2017, there were 30.2 teenage pregnancies per 1000 women – down from 31.7 in 2016 and 54.7 in 1994.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said the fall was "encouraging", adding: "This reduction means rates are the lowest since monitoring began in 1994. I’m particularly pleased that the gap in teenage pregnancy rates between the most and least deprived areas is narrowing too.

"We have taken significant action in this area and are working with partners to further support young people around both pregnancy and parenthood.

"This includes the introduction of our ‘Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy’ in 2016, which aims to address the cycle of deprivation associated with pregnancy in young people and ensure services put young people at the centre of decision-making, helping them to achieve their potential as young people and as parents."

A reduction in the teenage pregnancy rate has been observed since the most recent peak in 2007.


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