Teenage pregnancy rates in Walsall higher than national average

Members of Walsall Council’s health and wellbeing board are due to discuss the issue and approve the Walsall Teenage Pregnancy Prevention and Reduction Strategy 2024-2029 at a meeting next week.

The plan highlights steps which are being taken to achieve the aims of reducing levels in the next five years.

But latest data showed that, despite a reduction in rates of around 71 per cent since 1998, the under-16 and under-18 conception rates in Walsall were well above England and West Midlands levels.

Figures showed that in 2021, the under-16 conception rate in Walsall was 3.8 per 1,000 compared with England at 2.1.

The under-18 birth rate in Walsall was 5.2 per cent in 2021 while the rate for England was 3.2.

The plan also showed that nine of Walsall’s 20 wards, mostly in the centre and west of the borough, have a significantly higher under-18 conception rate than England’s.

In 2021, the proportion of under-18 conceptions leading to abortion in Walsall was 44.6 per cent – less than England’s level of 53 per cent.

Among the strategy’s plans to reduce the teenage pregnancy in Walsall will be targeted work in areas where rates are not reducing and ensure easy access to support services.

Health bosses will also look at tackling underlying factors that increase the risk of teenage pregnancy – such as poverty, low educational attainment, poor attendance at school, non-participation in post-16 learning and low aspirations.

Councillor Gary Flint, portfolio holder for wellbeing, leisure and public spaces, said: “The reduction and prevention of teenage pregnancy remains an important issue for Walsall in that we need to support young people to increase their aspirations, develop healthy relationships and prevent unplanned pregnancy.

“Over the past 20 years Walsall has worked hard to successfully reduce the rate of under-18 conceptions across the borough.

“There is, however, more work that we need to do reduce these levels, especially post-pandemic, where locally and nationally risks are increasing.

“We know that nationally the rate for under-18 conceptions is 13.1 per 1000 whereas our rate in Walsall is 18.9 per 1000 young women.

“As a local authority we will continue to work hard with our partners to keep building on the momentum we have gained.”

Councillor Stacie Elson, portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “The life chances for children born to teenage parents are often limited and parents themselves also experience reduced opportunities.

“Our ambition is to see teenage pregnancy rates reduce to below the West Midlands’ and national average over the course of the next five years.

“Across the country systematic implementation of these has shown great results.

“However, we cannot rest on our laurels, as we know Walsall is still experiencing higher rates of conception in people aged less than 18 years old than many parts of the country.”