A RECORD low in teenage pregnancy figures could signal a brighter future for the region's children according to health chiefs.

The high teenage pregnancy rate was highlighted as a key area of concern in the region's 2009 health report.

But a boost in Long Acting Reversible Contraception procedures following a promotional campaign from the region's Teenage Pregnancy Partnership appears to have triggered a 27 per cent drop in cases.

Councillor Stuart Wilson, lead member for health at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "In our role with the Teenage Pregnancy Partnership we have been pushing Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs) and the take-up has been extremely high.

"While some teenagers will choose to get pregnant and for very good reasons, it is important we give young people as much control over their lives as possible and the LARCs are a great way of doing that."

The region's Teenage Pregnancy Partnership is run jointly between North Lincolnshire Council and NHS North Lincolnshire.

With the Primary Care Trust set for closure in 2013, Mr Wilson stated the work carried out so far meant the council was in a strong position to carry on reducing the number of teenage conceptions.

He said: "With public health issues it is important to be pro-active rather than re-active.

"We have worked very well with NHS North Lincolnshire in this respect in recent years, to get the message out there you need everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. The council will obviously take a much greater responsibility once the PCT is abolished, and we are confident with the work we have undertaken already we will be able to make a smooth transition."

The news comes a week after Department of Health figures revealed levels of obesity and smoking have plummeted in North Lincolnshire over the past year. The areas have all been targeted in a bid to reduce health inequalities across the region, after the 2009 health report revealed North Lincolnshire is in the bottom 25 per cent in the UK for life expectancy gaps between rich and poor.

Mr Wilson said: "Tackling these health inequalities is obviously a major priority and bringing down the number of teenage conceptions is a crucial part in that. The affect an unwanted pregnancy can have on a young person's hopes and aspirations can be devastating.

"Also for the baby that is born into that environment it has been shown their social mobility is greatly reduced compared to a child born into a more traditional family."

Julie Bentley, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, said: "We welcome these figures showing fewer young women are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy and the turmoil this brings.

"Continued investment in contraception services to ensure all sexually-active young women have the right method of contraception is essential to sustain this trend."