Bolton's abortion rates are rising - expert (From The Bolton News)

Bolton's abortion rates are rising - expert

5:29pm Wednesday 20th June 2007

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More cash needs to be pumped into sex education to curb rising abortion rates in Bolton, claims a leading expert.

The number of women opting for a termination has increased from 960 in 2005, to 1,026 last year.

Now a leading family planning group is calling for more investment into sex education.

Simon Blake, chief executive of the Brook Advisory Centre, said: "To reduce the number of young women having to deal with unplanned pregnancy in the first place we need to see far greater investment in contraceptive services and a commitment to comprehensive sex and relationships education in every school.

"It's absolutely essential that women who are facing unplanned pregnancy can chose safe and legal abortion, and that they can do so as quickly as possible.

"Easier access to early medical abortion may well be reflected in an increase in the overall number of abortions as more women decide this is preferable to continuing with an unwanted pregnancy."

Nationally, the average number of women having an abortion is 18.5 per 1,000, compared with Bolton's average of 20 per 1,000 women.

A total of 229 teenagers - 107 aged under 18 and 122 aged 18 and 19; 275 women aged between 20 and 24; 245 women aged between 20 and 29; 153 women aged between 30 and 34; and 124 women aged 35 and over had abortions in Bolton last year.

In 2005, 217 teenagers - 99 aged under 18 and 118 aged 18 and 19; 273 women aged 20 to 24; 195 women aged 25 to 29; 128 women aged 30 to 24; and 147 women aged 35 and over had abortions.

Between 2003 and 2005 73 girls under the age of 16 had abortions.

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of Bolton Council's Health Scrutiny Committee, said: "Looking at the age spread of the people I would have to say the safe sex message isn't working as I'm sure the majority of women who have abortions do so because it is an unwanted pregnancy.

"I would support more investment in sex education in schools, the advertising of safe sex and the availability of free condoms. I would also question the effectiveness of the current sex education campaign."

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