Youngsters across Europe are headed for potential health issues due to a concerning trend in their sexual behavior. Per data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there's been a drastic decrease in the use of condoms among adolescents since 2014, accompanied by an alarming rise in unprotected sexual encounters. This situation makes these young individuals more susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancies, as WHO warns.
The findings stem from a broader health survey involving 40,000 15-year-olds from 42 European countries, Central Asian regions, and Canada, conducted every four years from 2014 to 2022. Results indicate that numerous sexually active respondents engaged in unprotected sexual activities. The proportion of sexually active boys and girls who used a condom in their last encounter dropped significantly from 2014 to 2022, with boys down from 70% to 61% and girls from 63% to 57%. Approximately 30% of participants did not use condoms or any form of contraception during their last sexual encounter.
Germany sees average condom usage among its young population, with 59% of sexually active boys and 58% of girls reporting condom use in 2022, down from 72% and 68%, respectively, in 2014. In contrast, Germany boasts higher usage of the pill; only 16% and 23% of girls and boys, respectively, opted for neither contraceptive method in 2022. Austrian and Swiss youth are the only exceptions with more modest non-usage rates.
Massive deficiencies in age-appropriate sex education and contraceptive access, as reported by WHO, exacerbate this unfortunate situation. WHO Regional Director, Hans Kluge, finds these results both startling and unsurprising, given that many countries neglect age-appropriate sex education and often face harsh criticism when it is introduced.
Report leader András Költő from Galway University emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive sex education to empower young individuals and facilitate healthy decision-making as they transition through adolescence. Young people require not just information but also secure spaces to engage in discussions around consent, intimate relationships, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Insufficient age-appropriate sexual health and safety education, as underscored by WHO, contributes to the growing number of unprotected sexual encounters among young Europeans. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director, urges the implementation of comprehensive sex education programs that create safe spaces for discussions on sex, consent, and gender identity to promote informed decision-making.
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Related Insights:
- Mechanisms driving the decline in condom use include social discomfort, misconceptions, cost barriers, biomedical interventions reliance, and multiple sexual partners.
- The decline in condom use contributes to the escalating STI rates and unwanted pregnancies among Europe's young population. Infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis surged by 31% and 13%, respectively, in 2023, while unwanted pregnancies pose significant social and economic implications for adolescents.
