In the English town of Lincolnshire, records are showing that there has been a marked increase in the percentage of teenage girls getting an abortion in a trend that goes against National statistics. Throughout the country, the number of teenage pregnancies has been at a constant decline with the numbers going from 416 in 2011 to just 385 in 2012. Despite these figures, there has been an increasing number of teenage abortion throughout the country, and in some specific areas, sparking the concerns of pro-life groups everywhere. Overall, pregnancy terminations within this age group have gone up from 42.1% to 43.1% in under a year.
The director of the children's services department, Debbie Barnes, said that, "[We] attribute the drop in local teen pregnancy rates to our educational programs and sexual health services--a trend that is mirrored nationally. The education programs and services available across the county have been offered because international evidence shows that accessible contraception and sexual health services, combined with educational programs, have the greatest impact on reducing teen pregnancies. This is also in line with the national strategy."
The increase of the number of abortion cases in the country went from 15.4% in 2011 to 17.1% in 2012. When asked about this, a spokesperson for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said that, "the vast majority of young people delay sexual activity beyond the age of 16, but those with an unplanned pregnancy in their teenage years need access to non-judgmental care." But, despite wanting to provide a safer space for the consideration of all their pregnancy options, the increasing rate of terminated pregnancies among teenagers has raised an alarm throughout the country. According to the Society for that Protection of Unborn Children, mental health risks are inevitable for women who undergo abortions and it is concerning to think of the ordeal that these young women must have to go through after getting abortions.
