The World Health Organization reported on Thursday that Condom use among sexually active teens has significantly declined in Europe over the past decade, with rates of unprotected sex reaching "worryingly high" levels
A WHO survey of nearly 250,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries and regions in Europe and Canada revealed a significant decline in condom use among adolescents.
"This is putting young people at significant risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies," WHO Europe said in a statement.
Data from a survey of more than 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 of the 53 countries in the WHO European region, including Central Asia, showed a concerning decline in condom use among sexually active teenage boys.
The proportion who used a condom the last time they had sex dropped from 70% in 2014 to 61% in 2022.
The WHO report said that the proportion of sexually active adolescents who used a condom at last intercourse fell from 70 percent to 61 percent among boys and 63 percent to 57 percent among girls between 2014 and 2022
Almost a third of adolescents reported that they used neither a condom nor a contraceptive pill the last time they had intercourse, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2018.
The report claimed that the use of contraceptive pills also remained relatively stable between 2014 and 2022, with 26 percent of 15-year-olds reporting that they or their partner had used it the last time they had sex.
The report stated that teens from low-income families were more likely to forget to use a condom or contraceptive pill, with 33% reporting they used neither during their last intercourse, compared to 25% from more affluent families.
Age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education remains neglected in many countries, and where it is available, it has increasingly come under attack in recent years on the false premise that it encourages sexual behavior.Hans Kluge, Director, WHO Europe
“The truth is that equipping young persons with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes linked to responsible behavior and choices.” he said.
The WHO stated that inadequate sex education not only contributes to higher rates of STIs and unplanned pregnancies but also leads to increased healthcare costs and disrupts the education and career paths of young people.
"We are reaping the bitter fruit of these reactionary efforts, with worse to come unless governments, health authorities, the education sector and other essential stakeholders truly recognize the root causes of the current situation and take steps to rectify it.”
The agency has asked policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers to invest in comprehensive sexuality education, improve access to sexual health services, promote open dialogue, and better train educators.
In 2023, President Emmanuel Macron made France condoms free in pharmacies for anyone under 25.
The French government implemented this measure in response to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases among young people.
In France, women aged 25 and under can already access free birth control as part of government efforts to ensure that young people of all income levels can prevent unwanted pregnancies.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Simran Sethi/MSM)