Big increase in teens seeking abortion

The number of teenagers travelling to Britain for abortions has increased substantially over the past 30 years, though the rate of teenage fertility has remained stable, a new report from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency finds.

The report, Teenage Pregnancy Data, said that "a moderate number of births take place each year to teenagers in Ireland".

The report, which was compiled to look at how teenage fertility has changed over the past 35 years, said there was "a common misconception that teenage fertility is increasing in Ireland".

It found that the majority (75 per cent in 2005) of teenage births were to young women aged 18 to 19, with a "very small number" of births to younger teenagers.

"In 2005 there were 42 births to teenagers aged 15 and under, which represented 2 per cent of all births to teenagers that year."

Looking at the teenage fertility rate - which is the number of live births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 - the report found that this increased from 16.3 in 1970 to a peak of 23 in 1980.

It declined through the 1980s but then, from 1995, steadily rose to 20.2 in 1999.

However, it has again decreased to 16.8 in 2005.

In comparison with other countries, the teenage fertility rate here is higher than the EU average and countries such as Norway (10.3), Sweden (6.9) and the Netherlands (7.7), but lower than the UK (27.34), the US (45.9) and New Zealand (25.6).

The report added, however: "It is important to note . . . the low teenage fertility rates in countries such as Norway and Sweden may be as a result of the high rates of teenage abortion in these countries."

Teenage fertility - using data for 1996 and 2002 - was found to be highest in Limerick (30.6 and 40.9), followed by Dublin city (25.2 and 32.1), with lowest rates in Roscommon (7.1 and 7.2), Galway county (6.8 and 9.9) and Sligo (11.4 and 10.5).

While the rate of teenage fertility has remained fairly steady over the past 30 years, the marriage rate has plummeted. While 39.8 per cent of teenage births were within marriage in 1984, this was just 7 per cent by 2005.

The report noted a "substantial increase in the number of teenagers travelling for abortions", though this has declined again since 2001.

While about 230 teenagers travelled in 1975, about 900 travelled in 2001.

In 2005 this had fallen to about 650.

The teenage pregnancy rate (births and abortions) remained "relatively stable" between 1995 and 2005, from 21.1 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 in 1991, increasing to reach a high of 25.6 in 2001, and declining again slightly since then.