Adolescents tend to forego the use of condoms more frequently.
In contrast to a decade ago, young people in Europe now have a lower tendency to utilize condoms prior to sexual encounters. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes this shift not to deliberate choice, but to a lack of proper sex education. This change in behavior has led to an escalation in the number of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies among the youth.
According to a report published by the WHO's European regional office in Copenhagen, the frequency of condom use among sexually active adolescents has significantly decreased since 2014, with an alarming increase in the rate of unprotected sex. The report, which is part of a broader health study among youth, surveyed tens of thousands of 15-year-olds from 42 European countries, Central Asia, and Canada every four years from 2014 to 2022 about their sexual health. The survey revealed that a substantial number of sexually active respondents engaged in unprotected sex. The percentage of boys who reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter dropped from 70% in 2014 to 61% in 2022, while the figure for girls decreased from 63% to 57%. Around 30% of the respondents did not utilize either a condom or the pill during their last sexual encounter.
Germans are average in condom use, top in pill use
German youth are relatively average when it comes to condom use, with 59% of sexually active boys and 58% of girls reporting condom use in 2022, down from 72% and 68% respectively in 2014. However, in comparison to most other countries, the pill appears to be more commonly used in Germany, with only 16% of girls and 23% of boys not using either the pill or a condom. Austria and Switzerland are the only countries with better statistics in this regard.
The WHO asserts that there are substantial gaps in age-appropriate sex education and access to contraceptives. Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director, explained that age-appropriate sex education is still neglected in many countries, and when it exists, it has been unfairly criticized in recent years for supposedly promoting sexual behavior. András Költő, the report's lead author and a professor at Galway University, emphasizes that comprehensive sex education is essential to empower young people to make reasoned decisions about sex during their transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood. Young people require not just information but also safe spaces to discuss topics such as consent, intimate relationships, gender identity, and sexual orientation, he added.
Despite the decrease in condom use among German youth, the World Health Organization commends their higher usage of contraceptive pills compared to many other countries. However, the WHO highlights the need for improved sex education and wider access to contraceptives, as numerous countries, including Germany, still face significant gaps in this area. This lack of age-appropriate sex education contributes to the continued prevalence of unprotected sex, which can lead to an increase in sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
