The recent study conducted by the World Health Organization for the European Region has revealed a worrying decline in condom use among adolescents in recent years. This trend, observed among 15-year-olds, raises major concerns about increased risks of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, affecting countries from Canada to Central Asia.
The results of this survey, based on data collected from nearly a quarter of a million 15-year-olds in 42 countries between 2014 and 2022, reveal significant variations between countries. The decline in condom use among sexually active adolescents is particularly worrying and an alarming finding for public health.
Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stressed in the report that this downward trend is “dismaying” but unfortunately “not surprising”. This decline can be attributed in part to a lack of adequate sexuality education in many countries, which neglect the importance of educating young people on how to protect themselves.
Among adolescent respondents, the percentage of boys who reported using a condom the last time they had sex fell from 70% in 2014 to 61% in 2022. Among girls, the figure fell from 63% to 57% over the same period. These data clearly show a worrying decline in condom use, which can have serious consequences for young people’s reproductive health.
It is crucial to highlight the importance of age-appropriate sexuality education to enable adolescents to make informed decisions about their sexual health. In countries where such education is available, it is increasingly being questioned, based on unfounded arguments that it encourages risky sexual behavior.
In addition, the study found that adolescents from less advantaged families were more likely not to use condoms, highlighting the importance of socio-economic inequalities in access to information and contraceptive methods.
In conclusion, these findings highlight a major public health problem that requires urgent action by policy makers to improve access to comprehensive and adequate sexuality education. Investing in raising awareness among young people and providing them with the tools to make informed decisions about sexual health is essential.