*A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a concerning drop in condom use among sexually active teens across Europe since 2014, leading to high rates of unprotected sex.
The decline, detailed in an August 29 publication, highlights the risks of unintended pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Based on data collected from over 242,000 15-year-olds in 42 European countries from 2014 to 2022, the study found condom use decreased from 70% to 61% in boys and 63% to 57% in girls. The use of the contraceptive pill has remained stable, with 26% of 15-year-old girls reporting that they use it.
The WHO obtained the data by analyzing the extensive Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
The report also points to inequalities in sex education and contraceptive access, with socioeconomic disparities playing a significant role. According to the researchers, adolescents from lower-income families are more likely to engage in unprotected sex.
“It is a misconception that sex education is well arranged in most European countries. For example, while the Netherlands has an international reputation for high-quality sex education, Dutch adolescents are not satisfied at all with the sex education they receive at school,” Margreet de Looze, assistant professor of interdisciplinary social science at the Utrecht University in Utrecht, the Netherlands, told Medscape Medical News. “Recent research showed that not even half of them feel they received sufficient information on topics such as romantic relationships, contraception, pregnancy, and STIs.”
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“While the report’s findings are dismaying, they are not surprising,” Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, shared in a statement.
“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 when 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,” Kluge added.
“We need immediate and sustained action, underpinned by data and evidence, to halt this cascade of negative outcomes, including the likelihood of higher STI rates, increased healthcare costs, and – not least – disrupted education and career paths for young persons who do not receive the timely information and support they need,” he said.
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