Children & Young People's Service
12 August 2011
County teenagers access sexual health advice via mobile phones
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More than 500 texts have been sent to ‘POP’ - a service offering advice to young people about sexual health issues since the start of the year.
The Leicestershire and Rutland Community Safer Sex Project launched its confidential sexual health text line for teenagers three years ago.
The POP (Pop in. Catch On) service receives around 70 texts a month and provides friendly anonymous advice to young people across Leicestershire about a range of issues.
These include relationship concerns, information about local services or more specific enquiries about contraception or sexual health worries.
The text service, which is part of the County’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy that is delivered by partners such as the County Council, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland and Connexions Leicestershire, allows young people to make anonymous enquiries which they may be too embarrassed to ask about in person or may not know where / who to go to.
Examples include: “Where can I find a free pregnancy test?”
Hello. What should I do to get rid of period pains? Pls help x”
"I think I may have caught something and I am really worried. What should I do?"
"Can you give me the name of the clinic in Loughborough where you can get an implant put in?"
Support workers based in the county reply to messages within an hour and continue the informal text dialogue to ensure the teenager gets the advice and information they need.
The helpline can be contacted on 07814 877 859 to provide young-people friendly sexual health and contraceptive services.
Leicestershire Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator Katie Phillips said: “We recognise that it can sometimes be difficult for young people to get answers to questions or concerns at the time that they need them.
“POP provides timely answers to young people’s questions whilst allowing young people to stay anonymous.
“This service does not replace the many young people friendly services across the county but offers young people an added means for receiving information and advice.
“The increase in texts received month to month shows that for many young people this service is providing valuable support.”
The latest Government figures for 2009 (the latest available) show the biggest year-on-year fall in 10 years in under 18 conception rates from
33.1 per 1,000 girls in 2008 to 27.6 per 1,000 in 2009. This is a decline of 27.4% since the baseline year of 1998, the highest reduction achieved in the East Midlands.
Teenage pregnancy rates in Leicestershire remain significantly lower than the national average, 38.2 per 1,000 girls in England.
For more on the Leicestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership visit: http://www.leics.gov.uk/family/tpp.htm
Media Enquiries: For journalists - Telephone 0116 305 6274 (Emergency out-of-hours 07887 634 474)
