OVER the past ten years the number of teenage pregnancies in our part of the world has almost halved.

Cast your mind back to 2003 when 715 under-18s in Hampshire conceived and 212 in Southampton.

Going further back the problem of teenage pregnancies at one point had even earned Southampton the reputation as the worst in the south.

But since then things have turned a corner and the figures, which are costing the city about £4 million a year, have fallen.

For that, the authorities should be congratulated – the results of investing time and money are bearing fruits and nationally statistics are now at their lowest since 1969.

For some parts of society teenage pregnancy is accepted as a way of life – a lifestyle of choice they are free to make.

But if figures are to continue to fall the emphasis on investment and education by the health and local authorities must continue.

If it does those statistics will continue to drop over the next decade. But those are not the only weapons needed to see solutions A focus must also be on peer and parental pressure. That too can also go a long way to changing attitudes – and therefore getting results.