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Teenage pregnancy rates in Reading have been linked to deprivation
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Teenage pregnancy matches pattern of deprivation

October 14, 2009

Teenage pregnancy rates in Reading have been linked to deprivation as the town shows signs of suffering from the recession.

Katesgrove, Whitley, Abbey, Norcot, Church, Minster and Battle wards all suffer from higher levels of teenage pregnancy conception rates that coincide with levels of deprivation around the town.

In April this year the council and Berkshire West PCT carried out a Teenage Pregnancy Need analysis which revealed most teenage conceptions happened to those aged 16 to 17 rather than in the under 16s.

Between 2004 and 2006 the under-18 conception rate in the town was higher than both the national and South East averages, while both West Berkshire and Wokingham were below the averages.

The town’s teenage conception rate has been consistently higher than the national and regional average in recent years. In the most recent figures – from 2007 – the rate for under-18 pregnancies was 51.6 in Reading compared to 41.7 nationally and 32.8 in the South East.

A further finding was teenage conceptions in Reading showed seasonal trends with peaks in the quarters ending December and March. Reading also had a slightly higher rate of unplanned teenage pregnancies compared to the national and South East average.

The percentage leading to terminations in under-18s was 52 per cent compared to 49 per cent in England and 51 per cent in the South East.

Reading’s teen pregnancy statistics will be discussed at a joint meeting of the council’s Education and Children’s Services, Housing and Health and Community Care scrutiny panels tonight at 6.30pm in the Civic Offices.

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That means most of Reading is a deprived area then if all you mentioned are deprived.Most of those areas ae full of immigrants too so are you saying their standard of morality is in question?.Teenage pregnancys have gone on forever only differance you wasn't rewarded like to-day then frowned upon after.Slag of a single mum till its your own then but my child is differant.

bahumbug, Reading
15/10/2009 at 10:06

'Not sure why I bother' - it takes 2 to cause a pregnancy! Therefore, in your poor view of the girls, the boys are just as much 'sluts' as the girls. I agree with your comment about sex education but the problem lies with the government and their continuous support and plethora of benefits for young mothers. It seems to be seen as a way for young people to make quick money - have a baby: have money. Take the benefits away and we may find fewer teenage pregnancies.

Victoria
15/10/2009 at 02:38

Children have never had better sex education yet this continues. The problem I think is no one is ashamed any more. The mentality is almost kids will be kids when is should be these girls are sluts.

Not sure why I bother
14/10/2009 at 13:12

Teenager has a baby = FREE house, FREE money (benefits). They don't have to bother working and can just hang about with their mates all day. Babies having babies, such a shame because these kids more often than not don't have a clue how to bring children up and the cycle repeats again and again. I don't know the answers on how to stop it, but I don't think the government helps because they make it far to easy.

Readingite, BCN, Spain
14/10/2009 at 11:02

I believe it's "I didn't bother much at school and can't get a job. I'll have a kid with the next person that says I look nice and get a council house and never work in my life".

I Ron
14/10/2009 at 10:40

I'm not sure what the link is between teenage pregnancy and the recession. "we're broke - I've got an idea lets have a baby"

Hugh Janus, Reading
14/10/2009 at 10:36

Emma - long story. The charity who ran it ceased to operate.; it got bought by a housing association who let it rot for 18 months. I have been pressing the Council to find uses for it as there have been a number of people/organisations interested. A planning application for a slight change of use was refused last week.