FOR EVERY 1000 live births in Tayside a further 300 pregnancies are terminated, according to shock new figures yesterday.

The official statistics, which prompted outrage from a pro-life group in Tayside, also show the rate of abortions among women aged between 15 and 44 was higher in Tayside last year than in any other Scottish health authority.

The number of terminations in 2007—a total of 1297—was also the greatest performed in the region since records began in 1991.

Almost 400 of the abortions in Tayside last year were among women under the age of 20 and a half of terminations came from individuals living in the most deprived sectors of society.

The reason given for the vast majority of abortions in Tayside was that continuing with the pregnancy presented a greater risk to the “physical or mental health of the pregnant woman” than a termination.

Clare McGraw of Dundee’s Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said the statistics were a shocking indictment of a society failing to support vulnerable women.

She said, “It is a sad statement about life in Dundee, not just the babies who have been aborted but the women whose lives will be scarred by their abortion forever.

“That women in the most deprived areas have the highest rate shows this isn’t about choice. They are already living in deprived circumstances so how are our laws and authorities helping them?

“Forcing abortion as a solution to poverty only helps the authorities deny the social problems of the poorer parts of this region by not having to deal with them.

“Another issue of concern revealed in the statistics is that the vast majority of abortions are performed using the abortion pill, which is tantamount to back-street abortion as many women end up dealing with it at home.

“Once again we ask how is this helping women?

“There is pro-life work going on in Dundee that is focusing on taking positive steps to address the issues our authorities continue to ignore. A sexual health group has been formed to speak with the council on better ways of informing people about their fertility.”

NHS Tayside public health director Dr Drew Walker said the statistics were concerning but work was being done to reduce the number of women seeking terminations.

“We have a number of projects under way in Dundee and Tayside which are aimed at reducing the rate of terminations and improving sexual health overall,” he said.

“In partnership with our local authority colleagues we are continuing to develop programmes which will improve sexual health and relationship education.

“We are also improving access to emergency hormonal contraceptives which is particularly targeted at the 16 to 25 age group—the group with the highest rate of terminations.

“The work of the Web Project with young people in deprived areas, particularly in Dundee, also aims to improve sexual health.

“We are about to launch a collaboration with the Family Planning Association and the Dundee Healthy Living Initiative called ‘Speakeasy’ to support parents, many of whom find it difficult to talk to their children about sexual health.

“Last year we launched the Tayside Sexual Health website…Our Cool to Talk website also continues to provide advice to young people.”