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Dundee loses its ‘teen pregnancy capital’ tag

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The teenage pregnancy capital of Europe has been a title Dundee has struggled to live down, despite health successes in reducing the trend.

Tayside had the highest number of teenage mums in 2007 and the legacy has stuck, with some people believing it remains the case.

NHS Tayside figures now show it is a myth, with numbers falling by almost 50% since.

Ann Eriksen, NHS Tayside’s executive lead and commissioner for sexual health and blood-borne virus said the trend is “extremely encouraging.”

She said: “The figures are now at the lowest levels since records began and Tayside is now below the national average for pregnancy in under twenties.

“This reduction is due to the huge range of programmes that we have put in place in partnership with our local authority and third sector colleagues.”

Planning intervention and services, along with information and education programmes, have been key to tackling the issue that is often linked to areas of deprivation.

Ms Eriksen said: “In Dundee city, we developed an award-winning peer- education programme that is delivered in schools that aims to provide young people with the information, skills and confidence to make healthy decisions about relationships and sexual health.

“In recent years we have also capitalised on the potential of digital media to reach increasing numbers of young people who can now access information and advice about sexual health and contraception by down- loading a free, locally-developed app, NeedTayKnow.

“In addition to the measures being taken to avoid teenage pregnancy, we are also working with colleagues and young people to encourage higher and more consistent use of contraception.”

She continued: “We also work closely with our partners to offer a range of support that is tailored towards the needs of teenage mums, including the Family Nurse Partnership, which provides intensive support until their child’s second birthday for all first-time teenage expectant mums.

“In Dundee, the Young Mums Unit aims to support young mums to stay in full-time education, and we continue to support Bringing Up Baby a group created and run by young parents for young parents, which provides information, support and activities for parents and their children.”

Despite all these services, Ms Eriksen said the health board cannot afford to be complacent.

The NHS has worked with young parents to develop a film on the subject and is currently considering a similar online interactive resource for all young expectant mums and young parents.