GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 14 SEEKING PILL
A DROMORE doctor has spoken of a "significant increase" in the number of local girls being prescribed contraceptives - including teens as young as 14.
Dr Eileen Atchison said she welcomes girls to the Dromore GP Surgery to seek advice in a confidential and safe environment.
The findings come amid the news that a 13-year-old girl from the district is due to become a mother soon.
The teen's mother warned of the devastating impact a young pregnancy can have on a girl and her family, and called for more young people's groups to get together to tackle the issue.
"It is such a family matter - it needs to be the whole family that deals with it," she told the Leader. "It doesn't just affect the baby's parents. It affects all the family members."
The woman, who did not wish to be named to protect her daughter's identity, said the news came as a shock but also raised concerns that young people still do not want to talk to adults about sex and relationships.
"My own daughter said 'Mummy I couldn't tell you'," said the mother-of-two. "She was so afraid. I told her never to be afraid to tell me anything but it just shows that no matter who it is, young people don't want to talk to adults about this sort of thing, whether it's their parent or someone else. They just feel uncomfortable."
Figures released from the UK-wide GP research database earlier this month showed a five-fold increase in the number of 11 and 12-year-old girls on the pill in the past decade.
Dr Atchison, while stating the increase has not been as dramatic locally, said she has welcomed more young teens to come and seek advice at the town's surgery.
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Weather for Dromore
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
