This puts young people at greater risk of sexually transmitted diseases, unsafe abortions and unwanted pregnancies.
The new data were published as part of the multi-part Research into health behavior in school-going childrenin which more than 242,000 15-year-olds in 42 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada were surveyed from 2014 to 2022.
‘General’ decline in condom use
The UN health agency said the data shows that “it is clear that the decline in condom use is widespread, and extends across several countries and regions“.
Overall, the percentage of sexually active adolescents who used a condom during last intercourse decreased from 70 percent to 61 percent in boys and from 63 percent to 57 percent in girls between 2014 and 2022.
In addition, almost one-third of adolescents reported using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill during their last sexual intercourse.
Socioeconomic differences also play a role in the report: adolescents from low-income families are more likely to report not having used a condom or the contraceptive pill as their last sexual intercourse than adolescents from wealthier families.
Sex education ‘under fire’
One of the reasons for such a shift in unprotected sex is the reluctance in many countries to provide sex education in schools, WHO maintain.
“In many countries, age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education is still neglected, and where it is available, In recent years it has come under increasing fire on the false assumption that it encourages sexual behavior.“While the truth is that equipping young people with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes linked to responsible behaviors and choices,” he notedDr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
He highlighted the negative consequences of such behavior, ranging from increased health care costs to disrupted educational and career opportunities for young people.
“By empowering adolescents to make informed decisions about their sexual health, we ultimately protect and improve their overall well-being. This is what all parents and families should want for their children, everywhere,” he concluded.
