In 2009, there were 38.3 pregnancies per thousand 15- to 17-year-olds. This is a fall of 5.9 per cent compared with figures released the previous year and is the lowest level since the 1980s.
But sexual health experts are warning this trend could be reversed due to cuts to teenage pregnancy services. According to a CYP Now investigation three in five teenage pregnancy co-ordinator posts are at risk in England.
Responding to today’s figures Simon Blake, Brook’s national director, said: "We strongly urge the government to ensure a continued local and national focus on teenage pregnancy as we know that if we stop focusing on delivering sexual health services the rates will go up.
"In times of public spending cuts making cuts to sexual health services is short sighted as this is crucial to young people’s wellbeing."
The latest teenage pregnancy statistics also reveal that the number of conceptions among girls aged under 16 fell by 5.6 per cent between 2008 and 2009. Just under half of pregnancies among under 18-year-olds ended in a legal abortion.
Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, said: "The success brought about by today’s figures is down to a dedicated strategy in England with a tried and tested formula of sex and relationships education, contraception and information services and local services working together.
"However, the fact that the strategy no longer exists is a significant cause for concern and so the government must examine how to keep this tremendous momentum going."
