WOMEN from ethnic minority groups are to be targeted to improve their knowledge of contraception and maternity services as part of a project by Redditch Primary Care Group.

Members involved in the sexual health improvement programme (HIMP) have identified a problem with providing information on sexual health services to ethnic minority women.

Redditch Council's health liaison officer, Jean Arrowsmith, said: "We have no idea if women from ethnic minority groups are making their own informed choice about contraception or if they don't know how to obtain it.

"Women need an informed choice and should be able to choose the size and spacing of their families."

"We will look at different ways of getting the message across about services, from contraception and family planning to maternity services."

The group wants to provide literature in various languages for women and also audio tapes for those who cannot read or write in their own language.

Ms Arrowsmith said: "Bangladeshi and some Pakistani women don't have the same understanding about contraception and might not know what's available."

School pupils from ethnic minority groups will also be targeted to provide sex education, find out their needs and come up with a way to address them.

And the group will be working closely with the All Women's House, Smallwood, to address the needs of young women.