Abortions carried out to under-14s up by 21 per cent

[TheDullWitch]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7462934.stm

Do we really need more sex education, though? Seems my kids do little else at school.

were there less babies born to the under 14s?

why is that not detailed at all?

I don't think that more contraception is the main focus of what's needed. IME most teenagers know about contraception and how to access it, they just choose not to use it.

I think this a reflection on society and values more than sex education.

Does it say anywhere if pregnancy rate was up too or is it simply more pregnant young women are choosing abortions rather than continuing with pregnancy?

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a figure of 165 means that for every 10,000 girls aged 10-14, less than 1 will be having an abortion

The actual figures given for under 14s are 135 abortions in 2006 up to 163 in 2007. Yes that's terrible but saying 21% is misleading though accurate. It's an increase of 28 girls.

Re "Considering that the younger the pregnant girl, usually the older the father, we probably need a lot more prosecutions for child abuse".

Do you have any links to statistics for that pls, Dittany?

I wasn't aware that that was the case.

assume there are 20 schools each with 500 girls in years 7-9. Only one pupil from all 20 schools will have an abortion. - not a big deal imho

and lets not forget that sex ed should be in the hoe too - schools can only do so much. What about the prents role - why is that the parents role is simple that of disapointment and a qick appt at the doctors?

Mothers should be the role modle that cod speaks of

its not hard to have a chat that consists of..
sex isn't a bad thing - its a great thing - just do it sensibly. this is contraception - here is the pill - ok yor not having sex and this is clearly not a green light to do so -and you an still get STD's and die of Aids unless you use a condom..

i do not select the parts of my chlrens lives i paent - i parent all of their lives - they are teenagers - teenagers have sex - so a trip to nurse judy ( real name!) is in order - she gives out condoms and talks to them and discusses contraception options.

as a parent you just KNOW whats going on - if you kid is 12 and out all the time and running with a certain crowd - you KNOW

I know my daughter is going to have sex soon - its a horrible horrible orrible thing she's 15 - i KNOW

my son also 15 - not a chance in hell

stll condoms are a plenty in my house

I want my kids to have a youth before babies - i want my kids to be fnancially sound to a small degree. I eant them to have options open to them after babies -not search around for options whilst they have kids in tow.

I think more parents have to take responsabilty - our schools should not be parenting FOR US

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When I was a teenager sex education had us thinking of the act in purely physical terms. I don't think any of us were prepared for the emotional intensity of our first sexual relationships. We thought we could just satisfy our urges in a controlled way.

SexEd should be about a hell of a lot more than biology. Under 14s having abortions is very , I can't help wonder if they are being taken advantage of, and would be interested in Dittany's stats.

Agree that parents need to take responsibility for sex education.

DS2 (12) recently commented that relationships are too complicated (his BF has just split up with his first GF - there has been trauma ), and said that he was going to be celebate.

DH said that he would probably change his mind as he got older, and that he should have sex with someone he loves, as it is fantastic.

Cue one of those tumbleweed, awkward moments, broken only by DS2 saying "uncomfortable!" a la Roger the Alien, from American Dad.

I think Cod was spot on with the "something boys do to girls" thing. I would like sex education to focus on sex as a whole rather than just intercourse- masturbation, oral sex and mutual pleasure.

agree that mutual pleasure is key. Also needs to be a way of somehow reducing peer pressure to "do it". I think it is seen as a necessary rite of passage to be gotten over by adolescents who have no concept of romantic love.

maybe I am naive but sex at 14 seems awfully early to me.
I remember a much younger colleague telling me that she had sex at 12 but did not actually now what that was

proper education - yes
but not just about the mechanics of it, a lot about self respect and consequences would be helpful but I would not leave it up to the school to teach by then it is too late.

I agree with Cod and Custy.

And it goes so far beyond 'sex education'.
The ability to make decisions without succumbing to pressure, to then articulate those decisions in an effective way, to understand the difference between the fantasy marketing world of sex-sex-sexy equals popular clever and feminine and the RL world ofstrong sensible women who make equally good choices about sex, jobs, family etc, the ability to feel good about yourself without contorting yourself into the designer-clad-accessorised-consumer-goods-toting image so many seem to fall for.

But actually, the 21% increase and actual numbers do sound a bit less sensationalist than you would first think.

witch is right. This is a tiny number. A 21% increase on a tiny number is another tiny number. Does not merit the shock horror treatment though of course would be better for all those girls not to be having sex at that age (IMHO).

I actually think this is moderately good news. Slight increase in the numbers of very young girls declining to become mothers at an age when they should still be children themselves.

is there a proven link to socio economic status and underage sex, does anyone know? I only ask as I wonder if there would be a way of streaming the education and support in such a way as to help those that need it most?

I am not sure socio economic comes into it all. Teenagers are teenagers with the same hormones and desires as each other, no matter what background they come from.

I agree with Blu though with "The ability to make decisions without succumbing to pressure"

I remember how vulnerable I felt as a teenager and let boys push me into far more than I ever really felt comfortable with. I was quite gobby too so i imagine its worse for others, maybe

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my boys wont presuure girls into doing anything i will drill it into them

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ahem
yes