The use of condoms among sexually active adolescents has significantly decreased in Europe over the past ten years, with „worrying” proportions of unprotected sex, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) published on Thursday.
„This situation exposes young people to a significant risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies,” WHO Europe stated in a press release quoted by AFP.
According to data obtained from over 242,000 15-year-old adolescents from 42 countries in the region, which includes Central Asia, the proportion of boys who reported using a condom the last time they had sex decreased from 70% in 2014 to 61% in 2022.
The proportion of girls who reported using a condom the last time they had sex decreased from 63 to 57% during the same period.
Almost a third of adolescents (30%) stated that they did not use either a condom or contraceptive pill the last time they had sex, a proportion that has remained almost unchanged since 2018.
The use of contraceptive pills has also remained fairly stable between 2014 and 2022, with 26% of 15-year-old adolescents reporting that they or their partners used the contraceptive pill the last time they had sex.
The report also shows that 33% of adolescents from less wealthy families stated that they did not use condoms or contraceptive pills, compared to 25% of those from wealthier families.
"Comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual education remains neglected in many countries and, where available, has been increasingly attacked in recent years on the grounds that it encourages sexual behavior," said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
"In reality, equipping young people with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes, related to responsible behaviors and choices," he added.
For WHO, in addition to the increase in STIs and unwanted pregnancies, inadequate sexual education leads to increased health costs and disrupts the educational and professional paths of young people.
"We are reaping the bitter fruits of these reactionary efforts, and worse is yet to come if governments, health authorities, the education sector, and other key stakeholders do not truly recognize the deep-rooted causes of the current situation and take action to address them," warns WHO.