THE CRISIS Pregnancy Agency received almost 100,000 requests for information last year, figures released yesterday show.
The agency's annual report also indicates one in every 403 births in rural hospitals is concealed, while one in every 625 births in Dublin hospitals is concealed.
A pregnancy is considered concealed when a woman has not told any of her family or friends and presents for ante-natal care late into the pregnancy.
According to the report the agency received 32,000 visits to its Positive Options website while 67,000 text messages were received from people seeking counselling information.
Speaking at the publication of the report, Minister for Health Mary Harney said the figures indicated that crisis pregnancies remained "absolutely a serious issue", although she welcomed the continued decrease in crisis pregnancies since 2001 and in the number of teenage pregnancies.
While 6,673 women seeking abortions in Britain gave Irish addresses in 2001, the number last year was 4,686. The number of teenage births in 2001 was 3,078 while this fell to 2,352 in 2006, the latest figures available.
Katherine Bulbulia, chairwoman of the agency, said it was developing guidelines for health professionals when dealing with a concealed pregnancy.
She said there was a variety of reasons why a woman might conceal a pregnancy. "Agency research has found that women who conceal pregnancies often perceive strong social stigma attached to becoming pregnant outside of a relationship.
"The guidelines will assist health professionals in dealing with what is unfortunately not an uncommon situation and set standards to ensure that women who conceal pregnancy are given support and assistance."
Director of the agency Caroline Spillane said more widespread availability of crisis pregnancy counselling contributed to the decline in Irish women seeking abortions in Britain.
"Since the agency's establishment in 2001 crisis pregnancy counselling services have been expanded nationally by nearly 50 per cent, with crisis pregnancy counselling now available at over 50 centres in 27 locations throughout Ireland."
The agency is also working with the National Disability Authority to draw up guidelines for crisis pregnancy counsellors and GPs to help them support women with an intellectual disability who have a crisis pregnancy.
Ms Bulbulia said research on sexuality, pregnancy, sexual health and parenting for women with an intellectual disability was limited. "Existing data suggests disabled women in Ireland are receiving less than adequate preventative health and social work services in comparison with other European countries." She said there was an urgent need to address the vulnerable status of women with an intellectual disability. "Women with intellectual disabilities are among those least likely to receive quality prenatal care, prompting an urgent need to address their vulnerable status."
• For information on crisis pregnancy counselling freetext the word "list" to 50444; website: www.positiveoptions.ie
