THE number of teenage girls getting pregnant in Greater Manchester has risen, despite efforts by the government to reduce the problem.
Eight years ago, the area was known as the UK capital of gymslip mums, with the highest rate in Europe. That was reduced in 2002.
But, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show a number of hot spots which are well above the national average including Manchester, with 66 conceptions for every 1,000 young women aged 15-17 and resort town Blackpool with 80 per 1,000 - compared to the average for England of 42.1.
The Manchester figure of 565 teenage pregnancies in 2003 is one of the highest in the country outside London, where 50 percent of teenage pregnancies are recorded. One of the London boroughs, Lambeth, has a 105 pregnancies per 1,000 young women.
Research
The increase in Greater Manchester will be a disappointment to the government which has been putting in a special effort in Manchester and Salford, but the two cities are still well above the national average for England.
The total figures for Greater Manchester are: 2,668 pregnancies in 2003, a rate of 52.2 per 1,000 women aged 15-17.
Other figures are: Manchester 565 (66.1), Salford 238 (58.2), Bolton 275 (49.9), Bury 162 (43.8), Oldham 257 (55.5), Rochdale 236 (52.4), Stockport 218 (38.7), Tameside 254 (56.9), Trafford 152 (36.9) and Wigan 311 (52.5).
The Department for Education and Skills said the government was half way through their ten year plan to half teenage pregnancies by 2010 and are concentrating in hot spots such Manchester and Blackpool. Research shows a link between truancy and youngsters falling pregnant.
The Office for National Statistics warned recently that teenage pregnancies were still rising even though the government have spent '138m on tackling the problem and today's figures confirm increases.
Greater Manchester still has higher numbers of teenage mums, at 52.2 per 1,000, than the national average for England of 42.1 per thousand.
Is enough being done to tackle the problem? Have your say.
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The government's solution to this problem has been to hand out more condoms, which has only made the problem greater. More condoms would help if they were placed over the tops of the bottles of alcho-pops, thus helping to prevent binge drinking. This seems to be the root cause of teenage girls getting pregnant and no amount of sex education or contraceptives will help till this fundamental problem is solved.
Too Much Too Young
Jerry Dammers / Lloyd Charmers(THE sPECIALS)
You've done too much
much too young
Now you're married with a kid
when you could be having fun with me
oh no, no gimme no more pickni
You've done too much
much too young
Now you're married with a son
when you should be having fun with me
we don't want, we don't want
we don't want no more pickni
Ain't he cute?
No he ain't
He's just another burden
on the welfare state
You've done too much
much too young
Now you're married with a kid
when you could be having fun with me
no gimme,no gimme,no gimme no more pickni
Call me immature
Call me a poser
I'd love to spread manure in your bed of roses
Don't want to be rich
Don't want to be famous
But I'd really hate to have the same name as you
(you silly moo)
You've done too much
much too young
Now you're married with a kid
when you could be having fun with me
we do birth control, we no want no pickni
You've done too much
much too young
Now you're chained to the cooker
making currant buns for tea
oh no, no gimme no more pickni
Ain't you heard of the starving millions
Ain't you heard of contraception
Do you really a program of sterilization
Take control of the population boom
It's in your living room
Keep a generation gap
Try wearing a cap
THAT WAS 1980, WE SHOULD BE GOING FORWARD NOT BACK- education!