An alarming decline in condom use is putting young people’s lives at risk, the World Health Organization has warned.
A WHO survey of nearly 250,000 15-year-olds in 42 countries and territories across Europe and Canada found that between 2014 and 2022, condom use among sexually active youth has dropped significantly, putting them at high risk of sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned and unprotected pregnancy. abortion.
About a third of 15-year-olds report not using a condom or taking birth control pills. While rates of sexual activity remained stable, with 20% of boys and 15% of girls reporting having had sex in 2022, the proportion of those who used a condom at their last sexual encounter dropped from from 70% to 61% among boys and 63% to 57% among girls.
The UK has some of the lowest condom use, with young people in Wales and Scotland reporting the biggest falls of all the countries surveyed.
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Only 37% of girls in Scotland and 40% in Wales said a condom was used the last time they had sex, a sharp drop from 2014 when it was 60% and 57% respectively. .
The number of boys using protection also fell, with less than half in Scotland (47%) and Wales (46%) saying they used a condom in 2022, down from 59% and 69% in 2014. decreased slightly, from 62% to 61%.
This compares to France and Spain, where by 2022 more than two-thirds of girls and one-third of boys said they had used a condom. In Germany, the numbers for boys and girls were less than 60%. The highest rates were in Armenia, Switzerland and
Greece, with almost three quarters of young people using condoms.
The report calls on governments to ensure access to quality sex education and to make it easier for young people to access contraceptive services.
“While the results of the report are disappointing, they are not surprising,” said Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.
“Comprehensive age-appropriate sexuality education is being neglected in many countries and, where it is available, has come under increasing attack in recent years under the false impression that it promotes sexist behaviour. sex, when the truth is to equip young people with the right knowledge. in time it leads to positive health outcomes related to responsible behavior and choice.
“We are reaping the bitter consequences of this effort, and worse, unless governments, health authorities, academia and other key stakeholders … take steps to correct it.”
Lisa Hallgarten, head of policy and public affairs at the sexual health center Brook, said its data showed “about the UK’s confidence in the opt-out system, which does not provide protection against and sexually transmitted diseases and is not very safe to prevent pregnancy”.
“At a time of rising rates of sexually
transmitted diseases it is more important than ever that we create a culture of condom use,” he said. In addition to quality relationships and sex education, he called for “a national public health campaign on safe sex and condoms and proper funding of our sexual health services to ensure that condoms are free and available to all who need them”.
Amelia Whitworth, head of policy, campaigns and research at children’s charity Plan International UK, said: “This report should be a red flag for European governments.
“We have seen an alarming increase in anti-rights organizations that want to deprive girls and women of their legal rights. From taking away women’s right to abortion to limiting what girls are taught about their bodies, their hard-earned and important rights are being eroded.
“We must ensure that all children and young people receive comprehensive sex education to learn about their bodies, their
sexuality and what healthy relationships look like. Without sensible action, we are at risk of that girls and young women are deprived of their right to choose their own future.”
The president of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Dr Janet Barter, said the report marked a “worrying trend” and that those at risk of unintended pregnancy were less likely to use contraception. – delivery.
She said: “Young people need access to high-quality, evidence-based education about sexual and reproductive health issues so they can make the right choices for themselves and their partners. anything less than that is failing our youth and future generations.”
A government spokesman said: “We know there is more work to be done to ensure everyone has timely access to sexual health services, and we aim to shift the focus from treatment to prevention and reduce the inequalities that cause poor health.
class=”dcr-1hirwfs”>”Consultation on proposed changes to legal guidance on teaching relationships, health and sexuality education has now closed and the government will consider next steps carefully.”
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