Worries Condom Scheme ‘Will Send Wrong Message’

By Gareth Rose

CONDOMS are being given out in schools in the Lothians to pupils as young as 13.

Today fresh fears were raised that the scheme could encourage youngsters to have under-age sex.

Contraceptives are available to children at four high schools in the area – Broughton, in Edinburgh, North Berwick, in East Lothian, Newbattle, in Midlothian, and

West Calder, in West Lothian. Youngsters aged 13 to 15 can access them, although they go through a rigorous screening process first, and will also receive support and advice if they are judged to need it.

The initiative is aimed at reducing numbers of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among children.

However, there are fears it will send out the wrong message to youngsters and increase peer pressure on them to have sex.

Councillor Jeremy Balfour, the city’s Tory education spokesman, said: “I am worried that children under the age of 16 are being given contraceptives.

“Clearly we have to do everything we can to stop unwanted pregnancies, but we don’t want to encourage them to have sex under- age. If they become too available it will send out the wrong message from schools.”

The schools are part of a UK wide C: Card scheme which makes contraceptives available to children and young people through a network of venues they are likely to use.

Dr Dermot Gorman, consultant in public health at NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian works within the framework established by the Scottish Government in its Respect and Responsibility sexual health strategy.

“Condoms have been available in a small number of secondary schools in Lothian through the respected UK national C: Card scheme, in line with child protection guidelines and by trained staff for a number of years as part of long-standing arrangements to protect young people.

“Each young person that accesses the C: Card service must be seen by a trained professional for information and where appropriate support.

“Condoms cannot be obtained without this prior process and are only given out where the skilled professional considers this to be appropriate.”

At least one girl a week aged between 13 and 15 is falling pregnant in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has the fourth highest rate of pregnancies among girls aged 13 to 15 north of the border, according to the Scottish Government. Between 2004 and 2006, 191 girls in this age group fell pregnant in the Capital.

A council spokeswoman said: “All schools in Edinburgh run an age appropriate progressive sexual health programme and it is important that the focus of this is always on relationships.

“Secondary school pupils participate in Share (Sexual Health and Relationship Education) which is a programme of 22 one hour sessions run from second to fourth year.

“We are also very proud of our dedicated sexual health team which works with fifth year pupils on issues such as unintended pregnancy, STIs and HIV.”

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