RCOG Statement On The Department Of Health Abortion Statistics 2006, UK

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 03 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The latest Abortion Statistics 2006 show yet again a rise in the number of abortions in the UK (a 3.9% rise to 193, 700 abortions carried out over the year). This is very disappointing and points to a failure to address the problem of unplanned pregnancy, particularly in teenagers and young women. In light of widely available contraception, this now represents a major public health issue and a failure of preventive medicine.

As stated in the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV report published recently Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People. A review of the impact of alcohol and drugs on young people's sexual behaviour , alcohol and drugs have a role in increasing risky behaviour amongst teenagers. The report also established that certain sections of the media are responsible for promoting negative images which impact on self-image and encourage unhealthy lifestyles and poor role-models.

The abortion statistics show that the abortion rate was highest for women age 19. The under-16 abortion rate was 3.9 and the under-18 rate was 18.2 per 1,000 women, both higher than in 2005.

The RCOG publishes its Study Group findings on Teenage Pregnancy over the next week and urges the Government, Department of Health and policy makers to heed the recommendations and proposals from identifying patterns and trends in teenage pregnancy and which interventions work. If abortions carried out on unplanned teenage pregnancies are to be reduced, due attention needs to be paid to increasing the practical research into these areas to assist in the development and implementation of preventive programmes on sexual and reproductive healthcare, public information campaigns, workforce training and the commissioning of services.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) believes there needs to be a rethink in the way Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is provided in the country with the aim of changing attitudes and behaviour across all ages. A co-ordinated, multi-channel, multi-agency approach with local strategies is needed to tackle the problem.

The RCOG would support better and more effective SRE in schools and local communities and a greater role of the media in rising awareness about sexual and reproductive health.

To assist in the development of such a strategy, the RCOG, through the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare (FFP-RHC), would welcome an extension of the work done previously by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit and now by the Every Child Matters initiative to include both young and older women, so that the educational and contraceptive needs of women across all age groups are catered for.

The RCOG also believes there is an urgent need for a National Guidance (NICE) developed from the clinical recommendations of the RCOG's own guidelines on abortion care, produced in 2004. This will be important in assisting commissioning and service needs in the UK.

In the meantime, the current widespread closure of local family planning services will affect access to and availability of such services to women, especially the most needy, and may be a factor in the increase in abortions. It is important that commissioners in primary care trusts factor in the long-term public health implications of these clinic closures.

For more information see:

1. Department of Health. Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2006. Statistical Bulletin 2007/01

2. Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV. Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People. A review of the impact of alcohol and drugs on young people's sexual behaviour.

3. Every Child Matters

4. RCOG. The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion

http://www.rcog.org.uk