The following text has been taken from the 'Data Definition and User Guide' for this year (see the Dataset Documentation Catalogue).
Target numberD3
TargetTo reduce the rate of conceptions amongst the under 16s by at least
50% by the year 2000 (from 9.5 per 1,000 girls aged 13-15 in 1989 to
no more than 4.8).
Indicator titleConception rates below age 16
DefinitionEstimated number of conceptions at ages 11-15 to girls resident in an
area per 1000 girls aged 13-15 resident in the area.
Period coveredBirths and abortions occurring in 1989-91
Areas coveredEngland and Wales, England, Regional and District Health
Authorities *
SourceOPCS
MethodFigures presented in the data set are preliminary estimates of local
conception rates in the period 1989-1991 (average).
Numbers of conceptions were obtained by adding actual numbers of
maternities and abortions at ages 11-15 to a crude estimate of those
which occurred at age 16 but were conceived at age 15. For each area
this estimate was obtained by including 88% of the maternities at age
16 in the total - a figure derived from more precise estimates published
by OPCS at national levels for 19891.
The populations used are OPCS provisional mid-1991 population
estimates based on the 1991 census.
* Because of changes in District boundaries during the period
covered, it is not possible to provide data for Parkside (E17) and
Bloomsbury and Islington (F22). Regional figures for North East
Thames and North West Thames are based on a mix of pre-1990 and
post-1990 boundaries.
CommentsThe figure published for England as a whole in The Health Of The
Nation White Paper was the more precise estimate published by OPCS
for 1989, and thus differs slightly from the data presented here.
In estimating conceptions at age 15 which resulted in a maternity or
abortion at age 16 no account was taken of a number of local factors)
in particular of the variation in the proportion of conceptions resulting
in a termination at age 16. More precise estimates at Regional level are
published by OPCS for 19891.
A maternity denotes a pregnancy which resulted in the birth of one or
more live or stillborn children. The notification of stillbirths relates to
fetal deaths occurring after 28 weeks of gestation. Data on earlier
spontaneous abortions are not collected routinely. As a consequence)
some conceptions are excluded from the calculations.
Figures for births relate to occurrences which were registered by 31
January 1992. Those for abortions were derived from notification
forms returned to the Chief Medical Officer.
This indicator is not available for Family Health Services Authorities.
Reference1. OPCSBirth Statistics 1990. Series FM 1 no. 19. London: HMSO)
1992. |
Table details: CRDA/24/DS/1992/5/14
