The Northern Rivers Times Edition 120.pdf

TEEN PREGNANCIES IN THE CROSSHAIRS

By TIM HOWARD

Teenage pregnancy numbers in Northern NSW mirror trends across NSW says an expert from the Northern NSW Local Health District. The health district’s director of Integrated Care and Allied Health, Vicki Rose, said in response to a Family Planning Australia report showing postcode was a factor in the rates of teenage pregnancy, that the overall the figures in Northern NSW have declined steadily over the 10 years to 2020. “The rates of teenage pregnancy are influenced by multiple factors, including whether people live in rural or metropolitan areas, and socio-economic status,” Ms Rose said. “Within Northern NSW Local Health District, some LGAs, such as the Clarence Valley

and Richmond Valley, are recognised as being more rural and more disadvantaged, compared to other LGAs such as Byron and Ballina.” Ms Rose said the LHD works with non-government organisations, predominantly in high school settings, to deliver targeted programs to prevent unplanned

teenage pregnancy and improve young people’s awareness of safe sex and family planning. These include programs such as Core of Life, Love Bites and Real Skills. She said the health district also provides facilitator training, most recently held in Ballina in June 2022 involving participants from Grafton

up to Tweed and west to Inverell. “NSW Health has introduced initiatives to improve access to information and services for reproductive health across the state, including pregnancy options support, and access to longacting reversible contraception,” she said. Ms Rose point out

young people in Northern NSW who become parents, have a range of supports available including:

• Adolescent Pregnancy Support

• Aboriginal Maternal

Infant Health Service

• Continuity of care

• NSW Health Safe Starts program She said early parenting support was

also available through Child and Family teams, Perinatal Mental Health services, the Tresillian Family Care Centre in Lismore, and the First 2000 Days Hub in Grafton. NSW Health also supported the NSW Pregnancy Choices Helpline which helped women to access service providers that meet their specific needs, as well as information on pregnancy options counselling. The NSW Pregnancy Choices Helpline 1800 008 463, provides free, unbiased and confidential support, is available 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday, or via the Pregnancy Choices Helpline website and Live Chat at http:// www.pregnancychoices. org.au