Lanarkshire has one of the highest rates of under-16 pregnancies in Scotland.

New figures reveal that 42 girls aged between 13 and 15 got pregnant in 2016.

And most under-16 pregnancies resulted in a termination.

The pregnancy statistics rose significantly, up from 29 the previous year to 42.

Among females aged 15 to 17, there were 243 pregnancies in 2016 – up from 229 the previous year.

And among females aged 15 to 19, there were 654 pregnancies in 2016 – up slightly from 645 in 2015.

The latest government data, for the year ending 2016, was released last week.

And the report said: “Many teenage women experience unintended or unwanted pregnancies, although for some this may be planned and a positive life choice.

“Scotland has historically had a higher rate of teenage pregnancy than most other Northern and Western European countries and reducing unintended teenage pregnancy is a priority for the Scottish Government.”

Across South Lanarkshire, there were 56 under-16 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016, while there were 68 in neighbouring North Lanarkshire.

Among females aged 15 to 17, there were 344 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016 in South Lanarkshire, with another 401 in North Lanarkshire.

And among females ages 15 to 19, there were 302 pregnancies between 2014 and 2016 in South Lanarkshire, while North Lanarkshire had 352.

Across Lanarkshire as a whole, the 42 under-16 pregnancies equates to 3.9 girls out of 1000 in that age bracket getting pregnant.

That is the third-highest rate out of Scotland’s dozen health boards. Fife is the highest at 4.9 per 100, followed by Tayside on 4.1 per 1000. The Scottish average is 3.1 per 1000.

Among those aged 15 to 17, there were 21.9 pregnancies out of every 1000 females across Lanarkshire in 2016. The Scottish average is 18.9 per 1000.

And among those aged 15 to 19, there were 35.2 pregnancies out of every 1000 females in 2016. The Scottish average is 31.6 per 1000.