Teenage pregnancies fall but city average still tops region

Teenage pregnancies in the city are still almost two-thirds higher than the national average, with 68.7 girls per 1,000 aged between 15 and 17 becoming pregnant in Hull in 2008, compared with 40.4 per 1,000 across the country.

A report to Hull Council's Children's Overview and Scrutiny Commission shows the 348 teenage conceptions that year were the lowest in the city since 1998.

That was still the highest in Yorkshire – above Doncaster's 68.6 per 1,000 – and among the highest in the country, with only Lambeth and Lewisham in London, and Manchester, recording higher rates.

Provisional data for 2009 shows a further decrease in Hull, although the council could not provide an exact figure.

But the report reveals the city is still 10 per cent off its target.

Deputy chair of the commission Coun Christine Gurevitch welcomed the fall but said the rates were still too high. "People are working extremely hard and it's working, but we realise there's a lot more to do.

"People are making great efforts to make sure unwanted teenage pregnancies are falling consistently. We are quite pleased with the work and the commission congratulated people for that work, but we are looking over the next year or so to see greater improvements."

The authority has been providing additional support to schools with the highest rates.

Outreach nurses are also providing clinical contraception services in non-clinical venues, such as colleges and youth centres.

The highest rates were in the North Carr ward, at more than 80 per 1,000, followed by Riverside (80), Northern (over 70) and Park (70). Lowest rates was in the Wyke area, at just under 45 per 1,000.

Nationally, more than 41,000 girls aged under 18 fell pregnant in 2008 – a fall of three per cent on the previous 12 months and a 13 per cent decline since 1998.

The size of the fall means the Government is significantly off its target to reduce numbers by 50 per cent by 2010. Hull had seen a 19 per cent reduction since 1998, a bigger fall than all its statistical neighbours except Middlesbrough (22.1 per cent).