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Southampton girls as young as 13 could get contraceptive jabs

12:20pm Tuesday 18th November 2008

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GIRLS as young as 13 could soon get long term contraceptive jabs at school as part of plans to curb Southampton’s high teenage pregnancy rates.

Government ministers have recommended the city’s council and health chiefs increase the uptake of injections and implants at school-based clinics.

Under the proposed scheme, teenagers would be able to receive the injections without having to tell their parents.

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The city is one of 21 in the UK identified as a teenage pregnancy hotspot by the Government which has sent out a series of letters recommending city and health chiefs take “urgent action” to reduce teen pregnancies.

The letters call for more “school-based contraception clinics” and “an overall increase in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception” that can make girls infertile for periods ranging from three months up to three years.

Officials claim that using long-lasting injections and implants rather than daily pills would make it easier for young girls to control their fertility.

Charlotte Bemand, Southampton’s teenage pregnancy boss, said the jabs were not currently available at the city’s secondary schools.

She refused to say whether it was something the city would be introducing until a six-month review of sexual services had been completed next January.

However, she added that long acting reversible contraception was already available to teenagers in colleges and sexual health drop-in centres.

She said: “Our focus is around our biggest age group of conception which is 16 to 17. That is why we are putting the focus around long acting methods of contraception with drop-in sessions at college sites such as Southampton City College and Itchen.”

See today's Daily Echo for the full story



Your Say YourDaily Echo

Cazzy, Hythe says...
10:57am Tue 18 Nov 08

I totally disagree with them being allowed to give the contraceptive Jab to girls that young as I believe it may cause fertility problems when they decide they want to have children. I went on the jab after I had my last daughter in 1992 and I have not had a period since even though I came off the jab about 5 years ago.

Georgem, Southampton says...
11:10am Tue 18 Nov 08

Tricky. On one hand, this can be seen as an advocation of sexually active 13 year olds, but on the other, to pretend it isn't happening is pointless. Ultimately, I suppose, teen births have to be curbed.

emdee, city of southampton says...
11:22am Tue 18 Nov 08

the ones that ask for the jab must be the ones that need it i'd guess! true that no one knows if this will cause issues later on in life, what do you do for the best??? who know's?

damned if you do and damned if you don't!

and on a lighter note, thank god someone is doing something said this father of 3 sons.

so many of these young girls aspire to having a baby and getting a council flat, its so sad!

AngrySotonResident, says...
11:22am Tue 18 Nov 08

This will only encourage unsafe sex. STI's with soar and these children will suffer with infatility in the future.

10 Minute Man, Bitterne says...
11:30am Tue 18 Nov 08

Contraception of all kinds are already available. Just giving more out is not going to help. There are other problems here, and to be honest the resultant increase in STDs is likely cause other issues further down the line.

And medication of children is the realm of parental responsiblity along with the family doctor - not the school.



Georgem, Southampton says...
11:38am Tue 18 Nov 08

AngrySotonResident wrote:
This will only encourage unsafe sex. STI's with soar and these children will suffer with infatility in the future.
But to not do it would increase teen pregnancy. There isn't an easy answer to this, is there?

Denzil, Chilworth says...
12:42pm Tue 18 Nov 08

What an excellent idea this is, for far too long boys have been shouldering the blame for for our astronomical underage pregnancy figures. Maybe we could even do away with condoms.

Georgem, Southampton says...
1:00pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody

Sly Stallone, New York says...
1:05pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Should these jabs be given to the teenage girls in Millbroke Towers? Or is it to late by then? When I was in the U of K I remember hearing stories of 14 year olds getting pregnant in order to be housed by your council in Millbroke Towers. Surely if these girls are given the injection at school, it would help to solve the housing problem over there, and those that genuinly deserve accommodation would go to the top of the list, rather than some 14 year old single, absent father type girl who will spend her life taking from your welfare state, (like her mother probably did and still does). Did the elevator ever get fixed at Millbroke Towers?

Denzil, Chilworth says...
1:13pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Georgem wrote:
Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.

Sly Stallone, New York says...
1:25pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?

Denzil, Chilworth says...
1:41pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Sly Stallone wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?
I'm guessing Georgem is unemployed by the attitude which he displays on this website, either that or he is old and retired. I'm getting paid for posting thanks.

10 Minute Man, Bitterne says...
2:02pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Denzil wrote:
Sly Stallone wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?
I'm guessing Georgem is unemployed by the attitude which he displays on this website, either that or he is old and retired. I'm getting paid for posting thanks.
Reading your posts,I hope its not performance related pay.

Miles Sway, Scotland says...
2:03pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Sly Stallone wrote:
Should these jabs be given to the teenage girls in Millbroke Towers? Or is it to late by then? When I was in the U of K I remember hearing stories of 14 year olds getting pregnant in order to be housed by your council in Millbroke Towers. Surely if these girls are given the injection at school, it would help to solve the housing problem over there, and those that genuinly deserve accommodation would go to the top of the list, rather than some 14 year old single, absent father type girl who will spend her life taking from your welfare state, (like her mother probably did and still does). Did the elevator ever get fixed at Millbroke Towers?
My guess, Sly, is that the girls who want to do the Social security thing will avoid the injections anyway so they can still get pregnant - you can't force them to have the injection which is a shame but against their human rights.

obelisker, Southampton says...
2:04pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Popular culture, peer pressure and the demise of childhood gives us s e xually active children. I totally agree with this scheme and if it cuts down on gymslip mothers that has to be a good thing.

goard, Southampton says...
2:17pm Tue 18 Nov 08

In the olden days it was a question of getting the gal 'in trouble' marrying her or paying for life - well if this does not work then it is a matter for the whole family to take care of its young - The young gal should surely take the huge work of bringing up her young.

goard

Georgem, Southampton says...
2:33pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Denzil wrote:
Sly Stallone wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?
I'm guessing Georgem is unemployed by the attitude which he displays on this website, either that or he is old and retired. I'm getting paid for posting thanks.
Well, I've commented on the actual story, rather than just make a predictable joke. Stick that in your non-existent house in Chilworth and smoke it

Lone Ranger, Southampton says...
3:01pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Sly Stallone wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?
Do you mean careers or carers ?? either is appropriate

Denzil, Chilworth says...
3:14pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Georgem wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Sly Stallone wrote:
Denzil wrote:
Georgem wrote: Don't worry, Denzi. I doubt you'll ever be blamed/credited with impregnating anybody
Keep telling yourself that.
dONT you guys have careers to go to?
I'm guessing Georgem is unemployed by the attitude which he displays on this website, either that or he is old and retired. I'm getting paid for posting thanks.
Well, I've commented on the actual story, rather than just make a predictable joke. Stick that in your non-existent house in Chilworth and smoke it
I made a worthwhile comment but one of you losers reported it, and it has been removed. Now stop following me around this website and accept the fact that I live in a better area of Southampton than you ever will.

Condor Man, Southampton says...
5:38pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Considering that the age of censent in 16 any girl under that age should not, by law, be having sex in the first place. If the law was properly enforced men would think twice as they could end up (quite rightly) on the sex offenders register.

Parents of girls who become pregnant under the age of 16 should be prosecuted for neglect and the girls taken into care.

I'm sick of seeing kids being brought up by kids. It's wrong for all concerned.

obelisker, Southampton says...
6:13pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Condor Man wrote:
Considering that the age of censent in 16 any girl under that age should not, by law, be having sex in the first place. If the law was properly enforced men would think twice as they could end up (quite rightly) on the sex offenders register.

Parents of girls who become pregnant under the age of 16 should be prosecuted for neglect and the girls taken into care.

I'm sick of seeing kids being brought up by kids. It's wrong for all concerned.
They are teens experimenting with each other in the main, not poor simpering innocents being preyed upon by the dirty mac brigade. And the silly idea of putting kids into care is laughable. Care Homes are breeding grounds for under-age prostitutes, how counterproductive would that be! This scheme could greatly lessen your sickness of seeing kids brought up by kids surely?

B. L., Springfield says...
6:23pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Why not just stop giving them council accomodation automatically and see what happens. Oh, and a sharp scalpel for the impregnators who shun their responsibilities, it worked in harems!

Condor Man, Southampton says...
6:52pm Tue 18 Nov 08

obelisker wrote:
Condor Man wrote:
Considering that the age of censent in 16 any girl under that age should not, by law, be having sex in the first place. If the law was properly enforced men would think twice as they could end up (quite rightly) on the sex offenders register.

Parents of girls who become pregnant under the age of 16 should be prosecuted for neglect and the girls taken into care.

I'm sick of seeing kids being brought up by kids. It's wrong for all concerned.
They are teens experimenting with each other in the main, not poor simpering innocents being preyed upon by the dirty mac brigade. And the silly idea of putting kids into care is laughable. Care Homes are breeding grounds for under-age prostitutes, how counterproductive would that be! This scheme could greatly lessen your sickness of seeing kids brought up by kids surely?
typical weak response from a liberal who thinks it's right for kids to experiment like lab rats. Girls should be encourage to have more self-esteem instead of being at the mercy of men wanting to put notches on the bed posts.

Shame on you, perhaps I can opt out of funding the housing of these mothers and you can pay my share?

MattProbert, Harefield says...
6:53pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Contraception and controlling their fertility is not the answer. Pregnancy is just a symptom of the real underlying problem. Why do these firls get pregnant? Surely not ignorance, sex education is so prevalent. Perhaps they feel worthless, and useless, and that having a baby (the miracle of life) is something trully incredible they CAN achieve. Not to mention the accomodation and attention they subsequently receive. If we want to curb teen pregnancies and I do (I was an unwanted birth by a teenager in the 1960's) then we as a society need to rethink our approach to these girls, stop treating them like worthless animals, and start valuing them as individuals with potential.

obelisker, Southampton says...
7:29pm Tue 18 Nov 08

Condor Man wrote:
obelisker wrote:
Condor Man wrote:
Considering that the age of censent in 16 any girl under that age should not, by law, be having sex in the first place. If the law was properly enforced men would think twice as they could end up (quite rightly) on the sex offenders register.

Parents of girls who become pregnant under the age of 16 should be prosecuted for neglect and the girls taken into care.

I'm sick of seeing kids being brought up by kids. It's wrong for all concerned.
They are teens experimenting with each other in the main, not poor simpering innocents being preyed upon by the dirty mac brigade. And the silly idea of putting kids into care is laughable. Care Homes are breeding grounds for under-age prostitutes, how counterproductive would that be! This scheme could greatly lessen your sickness of seeing kids brought up by kids surely?
typical weak response from a liberal who thinks it's right for kids to experiment like lab rats. Girls should be encourage to have more self-esteem instead of being at the mercy of men wanting to put notches on the bed posts.

Shame on you, perhaps I can opt out of funding the housing of these mothers and you can pay my share?
Happy to be a realistic Liberal rather than a Conservative christian fundamentalist (with an accent on the 'mentalist') such as your good self. Tell me Condor Man, would you also be in favour of E.C.T to try to 'cure' Homosexuals like they did in your 'Good old days'?

m_l_turner, southampton says...
8:27pm Tue 18 Nov 08

I am an 18 year old girl and wen i went to the doctor wen i was 17 as i needed help for 'that time of month' i seeked medical advise on it first and was told no as there is a 89% change of developing brital bone diease. There are other methods to stop girls getting pregnant and help there period!

Condor Man, Southampton says...
9:23pm Tue 18 Nov 08

obelisker wrote:
Condor Man wrote:
obelisker wrote:
Condor Man wrote: Considering that the age of censent in 16 any girl under that age should not, by law, be having sex in the first place. If the law was properly enforced men would think twice as they could end up (quite rightly) on the sex offenders register. Parents of girls who become pregnant under the age of 16 should be prosecuted for neglect and the girls taken into care. I'm sick of seeing kids being brought up by kids. It's wrong for all concerned.
They are teens experimenting with each other in the main, not poor simpering innocents being preyed upon by the dirty mac brigade. And the silly idea of putting kids into care is laughable. Care Homes are breeding grounds for under-age prostitutes, how counterproductive would that be! This scheme could greatly lessen your sickness of seeing kids brought up by kids surely?
typical weak response from a liberal who thinks it's right for kids to experiment like lab rats. Girls should be encourage to have more self-esteem instead of being at the mercy of men wanting to put notches on the bed posts. Shame on you, perhaps I can opt out of funding the housing of these mothers and you can pay my share?
Happy to be a realistic Liberal rather than a Conservative christian fundamentalist (with an accent on the 'mentalist') such as your good self. Tell me Condor Man, would you also be in favour of E.C.T to try to 'cure' Homosexuals like they did in your 'Good old days'?
thanks for the mental assessment, perhaps I should go to Room 101 and learn to love a world where people are rewarded for breaking the law. Surely the point of living in a democracy we have the right to hold whatever views we like, or has Mr Brown taken that away from us yet?


Rob444, Southampton says...
9:29pm Tue 18 Nov 08

AREN'T SCHOOL CHILDREN TAUGHT IN SEX EDUCATION LESSONS THAT UNDER BRITISH LAW THE AGE OF CONSENT, FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, IS 16?


Shoong, Winchester says...
8:17am Wed 19 Nov 08

Just stop the incentives that come with career-spawning like a free & easy life.

Dr Alimantado, Babylon says...
9:30am Wed 19 Nov 08

Georgem wrote:
Tricky. On one hand, this can be seen as an advocation of sexually active 13 year olds, but on the other, to pretend it isn't happening is pointless. Ultimately, I suppose, teen births have to be curbed.
It is tricky but I don't like the way the idea is locking the parents out. If my daughter were to have something like that done I believeI have the right to know, at 13 she would still be a child, not an adult.

As it is illegal to be having sex under the age of 16, how can the ministers then suggest that a 13 year old can have the injection without the parent having the right to know?

It stinks. It is not a solution. That said, I agree something needs to be done but cutting the parents out of the loop and then blaiming parents for the state of society nowadays is a real slap in the face.

Boris Remmington, Wellow says...
10:43am Wed 19 Nov 08

Sterilise them

Georgem, Southampton says...
1:52pm Wed 19 Nov 08

Rob444 wrote:
AREN'T SCHOOL CHILDREN TAUGHT IN SEX EDUCATION LESSONS THAT UNDER BRITISH LAW THE AGE OF CONSENT, FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, IS 16?

Oh, well, that's that then. Problem solved, eh! Why don't we also teach them that murder is illegal, and solve that problem, too?

Georgem, Southampton says...
1:56pm Wed 19 Nov 08

Dr Alimantado wrote:
Georgem wrote:
Tricky. On one hand, this can be seen as an advocation of sexually active 13 year olds, but on the other, to pretend it isn't happening is pointless. Ultimately, I suppose, teen births have to be curbed.
It is tricky but I don't like the way the idea is locking the parents out. If my daughter were to have something like that done I believeI have the right to know, at 13 she would still be a child, not an adult.

As it is illegal to be having sex under the age of 16, how can the ministers then suggest that a 13 year old can have the injection without the parent having the right to know?

It stinks. It is not a solution. That said, I agree something needs to be done but cutting the parents out of the loop and then blaiming parents for the state of society nowadays is a real slap in the face.
Why do you have the "right" to know? If your child does not feel she can talk to you about this, there's little point demanding the "right" to it. Parents involving themselves in their childrens' sex lives like this often leads to the wrong decisions being made. I know of people whose life - and the life of their child - was ruined, completely, because their mother interfered and demanded that she give birth to an unwanted child. Why? Well, she wanted to be a grandmother, didn't she? Whos interest was served there? Hers, and nobody elses.

Not that I'm saying you would be like that. Just pointing out that no such "right" exists, and rightly so

Harding, Southampton says...
4:09pm Wed 19 Nov 08

I agree Georgem, mothers thinking they have the right to know is the reason which leads to wrong decisions. Children now a days are not close to their mothers for what ever reason and when something as terrible as falling pregnant at a young age they have no one to turn to, try and make everything go away by ignoring the issue and then its to late for them to have a absortion so therefore have to have the child. I think this is a good idea.

Dr Alimantado, Babylon says...
8:58pm Wed 19 Nov 08

Georgem wrote:
Dr Alimantado wrote:
Georgem wrote: Tricky. On one hand, this can be seen as an advocation of sexually active 13 year olds, but on the other, to pretend it isn't happening is pointless. Ultimately, I suppose, teen births have to be curbed.
It is tricky but I don't like the way the idea is locking the parents out. If my daughter were to have something like that done I believeI have the right to know, at 13 she would still be a child, not an adult. As it is illegal to be having sex under the age of 16, how can the ministers then suggest that a 13 year old can have the injection without the parent having the right to know? It stinks. It is not a solution. That said, I agree something needs to be done but cutting the parents out of the loop and then blaiming parents for the state of society nowadays is a real slap in the face.
Why do you have the "right" to know? If your child does not feel she can talk to you about this, there's little point demanding the "right" to it. Parents involving themselves in their childrens' sex lives like this often leads to the wrong decisions being made. I know of people whose life - and the life of their child - was ruined, completely, because their mother interfered and demanded that she give birth to an unwanted child. Why? Well, she wanted to be a grandmother, didn't she? Whos interest was served there? Hers, and nobody elses. Not that I'm saying you would be like that. Just pointing out that no such "right" exists, and rightly so
I think the right does exist for a parent to know if their minor is having something injected into their body.

Indeed I would not be like your scenario described.

We will have to agree to disagree over the right issue. Just because the issue is sex related it shouldn't automatically exclude parents...keeping in mind the child making this 'decision' could be as young as 13!

I know there are many mature 13 year olds but I simply don't accept that the majority of 13 year olds are old enough to say 'hey, I want that jab, all my mates are getting it and I don't want my parents to know'. Peer influence is what will make the decision for most of them.

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