Ref. 31122-06MORE THAN four in 10 pregnancies in Swindon teenagers between 15 and 17 end in abortion, according to a new study.

The report, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, ranks Swindon at 250th out of 374 areas of the country in terms of the abortion rate.

Researchers say that the Swindon rate of 42 per cent is around average, but add that huge variations exist around the country.

For example, fewer than one in five (18 per cent) conceptions in Derwentshire, County Durham ended in the pregnancy being terminated.

But in Eden in Cumbria, the figure was three out of four (76 per cent).

Jane Leaman, director of public health, at the Swindon Primary Care Trust, said that the emphasis was always on making young people aware of the choices available to them.

She said: "Our services concentrate on providing the service and support needed by young people when and where they most need it often in innovative ways like chatrooms run by school nurses.

"We concentrate on supporting teenagers and making sure they are aware of choices they have."

Ann Furedi is chief executive of Bpas formerly known as the British Pregnancy Advisory Services which has a branch in Dammas Lane, Old Town.

She said the branch saw 4,565 teenagers aged between 15 and 17 last year. "This report highlights the fact that young women with unwanted pregnancies need fast access to specialist abortion services, where they can be sure that their confidentiality will be respected," she said.

"They also need to be cared for by staff who won't blame or judge them, and where doctors can

provide the safest and most effective of procedures."

The report revealed that fewer abortions were carried out in the most socially disadvantaged areas.

This was in spite of the fact that these were places with the highest rates of conceptions in those under 18.

The study looked at abortion and pregnancy data among 15 to 17-year-olds between 1999 and 2001.

In February, the Advertiser reported how Swindon no longer topped the South West teenage pregnancy tables. The new pregnancy rate of 45 per 10,000 under-18s put it in fourth place.

The abortion debate was reignited this week by the publication of revolutionary new ultra sound photographs of a foetus.

'It shouldn't replace contraception'

Jenna Lee, from Pinehurst, became pregnant with her son Cameron, who is 17 months old, when she was 17 and on the pill.

She is now 19 and expecting a planned second child in February.

She said: "I'm not surprised by the large number of young people having abortions. It's too high but I'm not shocked.

"I don't agree with abortions and think it's a horrible procedure but you hear of so many people having them.

"I think it's awful when people just sleep around without using protection and then have abortions when they get pregnant.

"People should learn to use contraception sensibly.

"If there's a genuine mistake, such as the condom splitting, then maybe they should consider having an abortion, but it shouldn't be used instead of contraception."

Jenna, who lives with her 24-year-old partner, Ben, added: "You hear about people who have had abortions at a young age regretting their decision later on in life."

Tamash Lal