Teen pregnancy rate down

There has been a reduction in the numbers of teenage pregnancies in the borough.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of teen pregnancies in the Rochdale Borough has fallen from 153 in 2012 to 113 in 2013. The borough saw 26.1 pregnancies per 1,000 in 2013 compared to a rate of 35 in 2012.

In a report to Rochdale Council, Councillor Cecile Biant, the Council’s cabinet member for Public Health and Regulation, said: "We continue to see reductions in the numbers of teenage pregnancies. The council works in partnership with organisations such as the NHS, schools, colleges and the Third Sector to improve services for young people.

“We continue to make significant progress by improving contraception services, education and information programmes, through our work with teenage parents, and support for sex and relationship education in schools and within the community. We also believe that the work we do to raise aspirations and opportunities for young people contributes to reductions in teenage pregnancies.”