TEENAGE pregnancy rates in the Borders are the lowest in Scotland, according to new figures.

A report published by Public Health Scotland revealed that the NHS Borders rate stood at 22 pregnancies per 1,000 women; whilst NHS Fife had the highest rate at 35 per 1,000 women.

In 2019 there were 3,814 teenage pregnancies across the country, including 219 girls under the age of 16; 1,241 under the age of 18; and 2,573 aged either 18 or 19 when they became pregnant.

That year the teenage pregnancy rate was 28 per 1,000 women however rates varied depending on where the women lived.

It was found that those living in the areas of highest deprivation had pregnancy rates more than four times higher than those in the least deprived areas (52.6 compared to 11.8 per 1,000).

Teenage women from the most deprived areas were found to be more likely to deliver than to terminate their pregnancy whilst in contrast, those from the least deprived areas were more likely to terminate than to deliver.

The report also found that, teenage pregnancy rates have fallen across all levels of deprivation over the last decade, stating “rates in the most deprived areas have fallen more rapidly”.

The proportion of teenage pregnancies that result in termination rather than delivery has increased gradually over time and is now the more common of the two outcomes at 50.3 per cent.

Publishing the figures, Public Health Scotland pointed out: “Many teenage women experience unintended or unwanted pregnancies, although for some women this may be a planned, positive life choice. Reducing unintended teenage pregnancy remains a priority for the Scottish Government.

“A reduction in the teenage pregnancy rate has been observed since the most recent peak in 2007.

“While this may be due to various interventions such as Scotland’s ‘Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy’, it has also been suggested that changing lifestyle factors such as reduced risk-taking behaviour and reduced alcohol consumption may have contributed to the decline.”

The figures cover those women under the age of 20 who became pregnant during 2019 – with Public Health Scotland explaining the delay in reporting the figures was due to the “amount of time required for a conception to result in a birth or termination, and for the relevant documentation to be recorded and validated”.