Fewer teenage abortions and pregnancies

Sex education seems to be working, says health department

The number of teens having abortions has fallen steadily over the last five years, according to figures from the health department Sundhedsstyrelsen.

In 2008, 2,895 teens had an abortion. Last year, that number fell to 2,205. 

The number of teenage mothers also decreased, falling from 995 to 738 over the same period, according to Danmarks Statistik. 

READ MORE: Teenagers risk developing ADHD symptoms through media zapping

The numbers of pregnancies and abortions fell despite an increase in the number of teenage girls. 

“The proportion of teenage girls getting abortions has declined significantly,” Sundhedsstyrelsen consultant Niels Sando told Metroxpress.

“It is hard to say why exactly, but there has been increased focus on improving health and sex education.”

Better health overall
Teens seem to be taking better care of themselves overall.

The number of young people under 15 who smoke has fallen from 10 to 5 percent, according to figures from Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, the national institute of public health. And the number of teens who say they do not drink alcohol during a typical week has risen by an average of five percent each year over the past three years. 

“When you consider they are also drinking and smoking less, it appears that Danish young people are starting to live much more sensible lives,” said Sando. 

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