Condom use among sexually active teenagers in Europe has significantly declined over the past decade, with alarmingly high rates of unprotected sex, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday.
“This is putting young people at significant risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies,” WHO Europe stated in a press release.
A survey involving over 242,000 15-year-olds from 42 of the 53 countries in the WHO European region, including Central Asia, revealed that the percentage of sexually active teenage boys who used a condom during their last sexual encounter dropped from 70 percent in 2014 to 61 percent in 2022. Among girls, the percentage fell from 63 to 57 percent.
Nearly a third of adolescents reported not using either a condom or a contraceptive pill during their last sexual encounter, a figure that has remained largely unchanged since 2018. Meanwhile, the use of contraceptive pills stayed relatively stable, with 26 percent of 15-year-olds reporting that they or their partner used one the last time they had sex.
The report also highlighted disparities based on socioeconomic status, showing that teens from low-income families were more likely to avoid using condoms or pills, with 33 percent reporting unprotected sex during their last intercourse, compared to 25 percent from wealthier families.
Hans Kluge, WHO Europe director, noted that “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 behaviour.” He added, “The truth is that equipping young persons with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes linked to responsible behaviour and choices.”
The WHO warned that inadequate sexuality education not only increases STIs and unplanned pregnancies but also results in higher healthcare costs and disrupts education and career paths for 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 recognise the root causes of the current situation and take steps to rectify it,” the agency stated.
The WHO called on policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers to invest in comprehensive sexuality education, enhance access to sexual health services, foster open dialogue, and better train educators.