WIRRAL has seen a 17% drop in teenage pregnancies and should meet government targets, figures revealed last night. The government's objective to reduce pre-teenage conceptions by 15% by the year 2004 has been surpassed. But experts have warned that it is unlikely the 2010 target of reducing teenage conceptions by 50% will be achieved. Health professionals in Wirral say they are not complacent about the overall downward trend. Julia Hassall, Head of Service for Children and Families and chairman of the Teenage Pregnancy Steering Group, said a range of measures are now in place to support young people in and out of school. She said: "A number of teachers and community nurses have undergone intensive training to support their efforts and Parent Line Plus have delivered courses such as 'Keeping Our Children Safe' to parents." She also stressed the importance of young, people-friendly services. She added: "Access to young user-friendly services and sex and relationship education in schools is crucial to reducing teenage pregnancies, as is the vital role that parents play in discussing relationship and sexual relationships with their children." There also remains a sharp division between Wirral's poorest and wealthiest wards. Whereas 12 wards have a lower teenage pregnancy rate than the England average, 10 of the poorest in the borough have a higher rate. The report, jointly written by three senior directors of Wirral Council and Wirral's Primary Care Trusts, says these areas "continue to be those wards associated with high levels of socio-economic deprivation". According to the report, the number of areas with "significantly higher" rates of teenage pregnancies has decreased from four council wards to three - Birkenhead, Tranmere and Bidston. And two of the other poorest wards, Leasowe and Seacombe, have reduced their rates by 7% and 20% respectively. The six wards with teenage pregnancy rates between 10-29 per 1000 - well below the England average - are Clatterbridge, Heswall, Hoylake, Royden, Thurstaston, Wallasey. The Wirral Teenage Pregnancy Strategy has been commended by the national Teenage Pregnancy Unit, which awarded it the highest ratings possible for its achievements. The Strategy also highlights the need to maximise opportunities for young parents to re-enter education, training and employment. A Young Parents Support Worker provides advice and information on matters such as housing, education, training and employment to encourage teenage parents to be proactive about their future. Jane Harvey, director of Public Health for Birkenhead and Wallasey Primary Care Trust, said: "A lot of progress has been made outside school too. For example, youth workers from Wirral Brook and Response work with groups of young people to raise awareness about the health risks associated with unsafe sex, alcohol and drug taking." liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk | 
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