WHO warns of decline in condom use among teenagers

An urgent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe highlights a worrying decline in condom use among sexually active adolescents in all European countries since 2014, with rates of unprotected sex alarmingly high.

According to the WHO report published August 29: Health authorities are concerned about a significant number of sexually active 15-year-olds who engaging during unprotected sex. The WHO warns that this behavior can have serious consequences for young people, such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The widespread prevalence of unprotected sex indicates serious deficiencies in age-appropriate sexuality education and access to effective contraception.

“The report’s findings are worrying but not surprising,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education continues to be neglected in many countries, and where it is available, it has come under increasing criticism in recent years due to the false belief that it promotes sexual behaviour. In reality, however, providing the right knowledge to young people at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes associated with responsible behaviour and decision-making.”

WHO came across these shocking data while analyzing a comprehensive study on health behavior among school-aged children (HBSC). This study is based on information collected between 2014 and 2022 from over 242,000 15-year-olds in 42 countries and regions in Europe.

Here are the data.

The report revealed a worrying decline in condom use among sexually active adolescents from 2014 to 2022. Among boys, use fell from 70% to 61% and among girls from 63% to 57%. Despite this, almost a third of adolescents (30%) reported not using any form of contraception, including condoms or the pill, during their last sexual intercourse. This figure has remained largely unchanged since 2018.

The data also highlighted socioeconomic differences: adolescents from lower-income families are more likely to have unprotected sex than their wealthier peers (33% versus 25%). However, use of the contraceptive pill has remained relatively constant: 26% of 15-year-olds reported that they or their partners took it the last time they had sex.

Dr Kluge stressed that action must be taken “immediately” to combat the problem, warning that failure to act could lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases and rising health care costs, among other significant challenges.

“We are reaping the bitter fruits of these reactionary efforts, and things will get worse unless governments, health authorities, the education sector and other key stakeholders truly understand the root causes of the current situation and take steps to address them. We need immediate and sustained action, backed by data and evidence, to stop this cascade of negative consequences, including the likelihood of higher STI rates, increased health costs and – not least – disrupted educational and career pathways for young people who do not receive the timely information and support they need,” the WHO official added.

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