Talk about sex parents urged

From the archive, first published Wednesday 21st Sep 2005.

QUESTIONNAIRES will soon be finding their way to parents in the latest weapon to help bring down soaring teenage pregnancy rates.

Swindon Primary Care Trust admits things must change.

Fran Birch, the town's teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, thinks some parents are too embarrassed to talk openly about sex.

But it seems the problem is not just confined to Swindon, although the town has one of the worst teenage pregnancy rates in the country.

New research carried out by Southampton University paints a disturbing picture.

Experts interviewed a cross-section of the public and found 93 per cent of parents thought they should discuss contraception. Yet just 29 per cent talked about the facts of life with their children.

Peer pressure also featured highly in the report.

Ninety-seven per cent of parents said they ought to discuss "saying no to sex" with their children, but only 47 per cent did.

Mrs Birch ­ who used these figures to develop her latest strategy ­ said: "It is clear parents really want to engage with their children but for some reason they are not doing that

"This could be down to embarrassment or because their children have been brought up to feel that sex is something that is dirty."

Mrs Birch said talking openly about sex can strengthen parents' relationships with children.

"If parents answer questions honestly it will keep the line of communication open," she said.

Parents had mixed reaction to last month's news that girls as young as 12 would be given the morning after pill free from chemists. Here are a few comments we received:

Karen Kelly, 47, of Manor Crescent, Moredon, who has a nine-year-old daughter, said: "I am shocked a 12-year-old could get the pill without her parents knowing.

"I think parents have an important role to play. Children cannot be too young to learn about sex."

Karen Turner, 36, of Somerville Road, Walcot, who has three children, including 12-year-old daughter Rachel, said:

"Twelve is incredibly young. I would hate to be put in that situation.

"I wouldn't like to think Rachel couldn't talk to me if anything happened.

"I suppose you have to see the other side to this story. If these girls don't have access to contraception you're going to have extremely young teenage pregnancies."

Nicola Watkins, 43, of Reids Piece, Purton, who has a nine-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son, said: "I think it is extremely irresponsible of Swindon PCT to do this.

"Giving girls the morning after pill might prevent them getting pregnant. But children of 12 should not be having sex."

Chemists providing morning after pills are are: Lloyds Pharmacy, Cavendish Square, Park South; Kingswood Pharmacy, Kingswood Avenue, Park North; Train's Pharmacy, Rodbourne Road; Lloyds Pharmacy, Clive Parade, Cricklade Road; Highworth Pharmacy, Sheep Street, Highworth.

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