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The sexual health of teenagers in London is "worryingly poor" health chiefs admitted today.
A new report highlights soaring teenage pregnancy rates and increased numbers of sexually transmitted infections in the capital.
James Cleverly, chairman of the London Assembly's health and public services committee, which published the report, wants a "teen sex czar" appointed to address the fragmented approach to sexual health.
The report found that Camden primary care trust spends £57.67 per head of the population on sexual health services, while Bexley PCT spends £5.46. But the teen pregnancy rates in both areas are similar. In Camden 38.3 girls aged between 15 and 17 in every 1,000 will get pregnant, while in Bexley that figure is 37.6.
In London last year 1,317 people in every 100,000 aged between 16 and 19 were diagnosed with chlamydia. The national figure was 1,026.
Reader views (2)
Is this really news, parents try their best to teach their kids but are they really doing enough, maybe we should be cruel to be kind and maybe when they get an s.t.i and become infertile they might learn a lesson.
- Kay, London, 05/08/2009 17:38
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Well what do you expect from a "sex ed" system that continually preaches "just do it" and tries to get more and more very young people just doing it.
Amazing all the agony over people under the age of 25 being allowed to drive "they are not fully mentally developed" and yet these kids are considered mature enough to take a chance on making babies and spread disease.
- Trunk, US, 05/08/2009 17:01
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