Teenage pregnancies have fallen in Halton

Conceptions among under 16s in Runcorn and Widnes have dropped by a quarter since the last figures were released.

They are now 60 per cent less than between 2008-2010.

Halton Cllr Ged Philbin, board member for children, young people and families, said: "We are pleased with the latest figures but are working hard to bring them down even further.

"We have come on in leaps and bounds in the last decade, through education, hard work and a change in attitudes among the young people themselves."

There were 54 conceptions among Halton teenagers aged under 16 between 2011-13.

This has now been coming down since 2008-10, when there were 95 conceptions.

There were 76 pregnancies in under 18 teenagers in Halton during 2013 compared to 92 in 2012.

Halton Council has been working to reduce pregnancies with a number of measures.

Sexual health service information is available through a range of locations including doctors, pharmacies, youth clubs, schools and other community settings.

Young people have been made aware of the negative effects alcohol and drugs can have on positive sexual health and relationships.

Parents and carers have been encouraged to talk with their children about relationships, sex and sexuality.

Young people have been targeted in schools through special ‘teens and tot’ programmes.

A condom distribution programme is more widely available.

Workers in community and health and social care settings have been given sexual awareness training.

The number of sexual health clinics has been increased and made more approachable for young people.

An outreach bus and teams visit hotspot areas on Friday and Saturday nights and during school holidays to provide young people with information and advice on positive sexual health.

Information and advice on relationships and contraception is now available at drop-ins at some schools.

Halton health improvement teams are encouraging schools to develop their sex and relationship education curriculum.