Research about Teenage Pregnancy in Belfast:

Teenage pregnancy rates in parts of east Belfast are more than double the average for the Eastern Health Board area, a report has said.

The average pregnancy rate among teenagers in the board area is 8.1%, but in Tullycarnet it is 18.8%.

The survey on attitudes towards sexual health among 12 to 16-year-olds is being launched on Monday.

It was carried out amid mounting concern about teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infection rates.

Compiled by the East Belfast Community Health Information Project, more than 100 young people from 10 areas of east Belfast were questioned for the report during July and August this year.

The report found that although teenage pregnancy rates were high in many areas of east Belfast, most young people in the study were not sexually active.

However, many stated that they felt sexual activity was encouraged or influenced by peer pressure, the media, and drink or drugs.

It also found young people had little or no opportunity to discuss issues surrounding sexual health and there was no consistent model of sex education in many schools.

Support for parents

Young people also voiced concern about a lack of sexual health services in their area. Health development worker Esther Lynch said they wanted to ensure young people were better informed. She said: "Young people in east Belfast have had their say. "Will we listen?" The report recommended raising awareness of services for the youth and support for parents. Support groups, written information, lay health information workers and awareness training have all been identified as ways of informing both young people and the older generation.

A Mansfield girl who sparked national debate by having an abortion without her mother's knowledge is pregnant again - and plans to keep the baby.

The girl was 14 when she had a chemical termination arranged by a school health worker earlier this year without her mother's permission. Her mother wants a law which states under-16s cannot have abortions without parental consent. The baby is due in July - just after the schoolgirl finishes her GCSEs.

'Atonement' baby

Her mother said: "Me and my family are supportive 100%. We'll be there for her - like we said previously."

Aware she may be criticised for letting her daughter get pregnant again, she added: "She's 15, she made her own mind up. She was hell-bent on replacing the one she lost, basically.

"Other than strap her to her bedroom or follow her around with a camera 24 hours a day, I don't see what else I could do as a parent." But Rachel Heath, a spokeswoman for the pro-life charity LIFE, said: "It is not uncommon for women who have an abortion to become pregnant again soon after.

"Many women find the pain of their abortion difficult to bear and go on to have an 'atonement' baby. This is often by the same father."

She added: "I hope this time the school health worker leaves (the girl), her boyfriend and family alone to prepare themselves for the birth of their child.