Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided an update on work coordinated by Public Health, aimed at promoting positive sexual health for young people and reducing the number of teenage pregnancies (for copy see file of minutes).

The Committee received a presentation from H Riddell, Public Health Advanced Practitioner (for copy see file of minutes).

Members were advised of a time lag with regards to the collation of the data and there was an ongoing effort to capture real time data.  Data was also released at Middle Super Output Area level which allowed teenage conception data to be considered in line with areas of deprivation.

Two young females who had been on the Young Parents Pathway attended the meeting and were asked a number of questions from Members.

One of the young parents confirmed that her child had been born with complications of the heart and she had been given the opportunity to do a paediatric first aid course and also make a CV.  The activities were child orientated which had assisted in her child with separation anxiety going in to nursery.  She had also finally accepted help for mental health issues and had been seen by a mental health nurse, something which she would not have accepted prior to joining the pathway.  She had finally been given clinical diagnosis for depression and anxiety, Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The other young parent had been subjected to child protection proceedings due to actions of her ex-partner and she felt that she would not have been able to get through it without the support of the group.

The Chair asked if there were any males on the pathway and the Public Health Advanced Practitioner confirmed that it had been recognised that the system was not identifying potential males and they tended to be embarrassed to enrol, however there were at least twenty males registered on the next programme.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.