Under-18 conception rate ‘hits new low in England’

Efforts to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies in England have driven the under-18 conception rate to a new low, new figures have revealed.

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows that the conception rate among under-18s dropped by 12.3 percent in 2013 to 24.3 per 1,000, which is the lowest since records began. Meanwhile, the under-16 conception rate fell to 4.8 per 1,000 females – a 14.3 percent reduction from 2012.

This means that since 1998, the under-18 conception rate has decreased by 47.9 percent, with drops in excess of 60 per cent seen in some of the top-performing regions.

However, Public Health England said more work needs to be done to address the significant variations in teenage pregnancy figures across the country, with the rate in some areas still being much higher than the national average.

It was also noted that England continues to experience higher levels of teenage pregnancy than many comparable western European nations, suggesting further progress is needed.

Professor Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "Today's data show us high conception rates can be reduced and young people's sexual health can be improved, if they receive the right support."