10:49am Friday 19th March 2010
By Steve Dancey
TIDWORTH has been identified as a priority area for action after the most extensive county-wide study of health and deprivation ever carried out in England highlighted several areas of concern – including binge-drinking and the county’s highest rate of teenage pregnancy.
The community area – which includes Ludgershall, the Collingbournes, Chutes and Netheravon – has Wiltshire’s second highest rate of hospital admissions related to alcohol and domestic violence, the third highest incidence of smoking and the fourth highest level of childhood obesity.
The information, contained in the joint strategic needs assessment compiled by health, council and police services, was unveiled by director of public health Maggie Rae at a meeting of the Tidworth Area Board, in Enford.
“Total consumption of alcohol is lower than average but hospital admissions are higher, which tells that the problems are to do with people who drink a lot on some days but are not drinking every day – binge-drinkers,” she said.
“In the Tidworth area, 19 girls under 18 become pregnant per year. If people have babies when they are very young it is not a good situation for the mother or baby.”
The pregnancy rate between 2007 and 2009 in the Tidworth area was significantly higher than any of the other 19 community areas in Wiltshire.
Binge-drinking and the incidence of smoking may be linked to the high number of service personnel in the area.
As part of a campaign to increase health awareness, a community area health fair will be held at Tidworth Leisure Centre on 14 April. The NHS, council, health charities and police will be represented, with screening, advice, support and access to carer support and voluntary services on offer.
Despite the gloom there were some brighter aspects to the report, as life expectancy in Tidworth – at 78.9 for males and 81.9 for females – was only just below the average for Wiltshire as a whole.
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