Teenage mother promotes safer sex

Emma has persauded businesses to help the campaign

A teenage mother is helping to promote safer sex in a town which once had one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the South West.

As part of her work experience with Swindon primary care trust, Emma Page, 17, is persuading local businesses to display a poster about safer sex.

Emma, who has an 18-month-old son, is urging other young people to consider the consequences of unprotected sex.

"It has been quite hard, even labour and pregnancy was hard," she said.

Rates dropping

"I was still a young girl, growing as well, and I obviously hadn't developed properly."

New figures show the annual rate of teenage pregnancies in Swindon has fallen by almost a quarter in the last three years from nearly 200 a year to 153.

Fran Birch, teenage pregnancy coordinator, said: "We're very pleased our rates have come down, because we've always been the highest area in the South West for teenage conceptions.

"But we still have loads to do, we mustn't be complacent. We have to be focused on ensuring the rates continue to drop."