Birth control ‘is a must for Scots schools’

By LYNSEY BEWS
Published on 18/02/2013 00:06

THE Scottish Government should allow the morning-after pill to be available in schools, according to health professionals.

School nurses could dispense condoms and emergency contraception, which would help reduce teenage pregnancy rates, the Scottish Sexual Health 
lead clinicians group has suggested.

Holyrood’s health committee is holding an inquiry into teenage pregnancy and action to reduce it. In a written submission, the clinicians group said: “The potential for the school nursing service to make an impact is restricted by lack of finance for posts and also timidity on the part of government and local authorities – why is emergency contraception not available in schools?

“Why are condoms and contraception not accessible? Vaccination against a sexually transmitted infection (HPV) is given in schools, why can’t pregnancy and other STIs be prevented?”