The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over a significant decline in condom use among sexually active adolescents since 2014, leading to a surge in unprotected sex and associated risks.
In a statement on Thursday, a new report from the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe said the data revealed a worrying trend of decreased condom use.
According to the report, the decreased condom use is putting young people at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, and unplanned pregnancies.
“The report, based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, surveyed over 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada between 2014 and 2022.
“The findings indicate a pervasive decrease in condom use, with the proportion of sexually active adolescents using a condom at last intercourse falling from 70 per cent to 61 per cent among boys and 63 per cent to 57 per cent among girls between 2014 and 2022.
“Furthermore, nearly a third of adolescents reported using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill at last intercourse, with socioeconomic differences also playing a role.
“Adolescents from low-income families were more likely to report not using protection than those from more affluent families,” it said.
The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, attributed the decline in condom use to a lack of comprehensive sex education, which had come under attack in recent years.
He emphasised the importance of equipping young people with the right knowledge to make informed decisions about their sexual health, ultimately safeguarding their overall well-being.
