One schoolgirl each week has an abortion in Lothian

Published on Wednesday 27 May 2009 09:37

ABORTIONS in Lothian have reached record levels, with at least one schoolgirl a week now undergoing a termination.

Latest figures show that last year a total of 2,651 women in Lothian had abortions compared with 2,632 the previous year and 2,104 in 1991.

There were 55 abortions performed on girls under 16 and 559 on girls aged 16-19.

That led Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, to claim today the figures confirmed the "abject failure" of official sexual health strategies.

Across Scotland, abortions rose from 13,738 to 13,817, including almost 3,500 on teenagers.

Lothian's abortion rate – the number of terminations per 1,000 women aged 15-44 – is the second highest in Scotland at 14.4. Only Tayside has a higher rate – 15.7 – and the national average was 13.1.

Lothian also had the third highest rate of abortions among women in the poorest social groups – 26.3 per 1,000 compared with the national average of 18.1.

Nearly 31 per cent of women having abortions in Lothian had already had at least one termination.

Only Tayside had a higher rate at 32 per cent. The national average was 27.3 per cent.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison described the rise as "disappointing".

She said: "Education has a key role to play, which is why we are working with parents, schools and NHS Health Scotland to provide additional support and information around relationships and sexual health."

But Cardinal O'Brien said: "The 2008 abortion statistics confirm the abject failure of the so-called 'sexual health strategy' of recent years.

"They represent a human rights violation, in our midst, on a massive scale.

These statistics shame and debase us all."

Lothians SNP MSP and former Wester Hailes GP Dr Ian McKee said the figures were "very concerning".

He said: "I'm totally against people having pregnancies they don't want, but abortion is not the best way to sort it out."

He suggested increased alcohol consumption amongst youngsters could be a factor, but called for more study of the causes of the increase in abortions.

He said: "A lot more young people are taking alcohol these days, which reduces people's inhibitions – that might play a part.

"But that's my instinct rather than a scientific observation. I think this needs careful looking into."

Dr Ken Black, consultant in public health at NHS Lothian, said despite an increasing population, abortion rates in Lothian had remained largely stable at around 14 per 1,000 women of reproductive age for the past decade.

But he said: "We want people to come forward and take the advice and help we offer about family planning.

"That's why we promote a responsible approach to relationships and sex and why we offer advice on contraception, including longer-lasting methods, like implants, injections and intra-uterine devices, which are very effective."

He said a new sexual health centre was due to open in autumn next year at Lauriston Place, which would be more convenient for people to access.