According to a report commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), teenagers are using condoms less during sex, raising concerns about the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Between 2014 and 2022, the proportion of sexually active young people who used a condom during their last sexual intercourse fell from 70% to 61% for boys and from 63% to 57% for girls, according to the report published on Thursday (29 August).
The same data show that almost a third of adolescents (30%) reported not using condoms or contraceptives.
According to Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, these figures are worrying but not surprising.
“Age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education is still neglected in many countries and where it is available, it has come under increasing criticism in recent years because of the false assumption that it promotes sexual behavior,” Kluge said in a press release.
Roadmap for policymakers
The WHO report contains several recommendations for policy makers, educators and health workers with the aim of “Equipping young people with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes associated with responsible behavior and decision-making.”
In other words, every school should have educational programs that cover a wide range of topics, including comprehensive sex education.
“Education must go beyond the mere transmission of information,” said Dr András Költő from the University of Galway (Ireland) is the lead author of the report. He suggests creating safe spaces and services for young people to discuss all issues related to intimate relationships.
“Governments, health and education authorities and civil society organizations should help them develop important life skills, including transparent, non-judgmental communication and decision-making,” he added.
Financial and political support
In addition to educating teenagers, financial and political support is also needed to develop effective education programs on safer sexuality, the UN health agency added.
A 2022 study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) also highlighted the need to invest in teachers and other school staff.
According to the FEMM Committee, the EU institutions should provide financial resources to promote sexuality education and exchange best practices between Member States.
In Catalonia, for example, schools have introduced a pilot program on sexual and emotional education for all children aged 3 to 15.
“We have the evidence, the tools and the strategies to improve adolescent sexual health. What we need, however, is the political will and the means to implement it,” said Dr. Margreet de Looze of Utrecht University, one of the report’s co-authors.
The example of anti-LGBT+ propaganda
While sex education is compulsory in 19 EU countries, in many countries it is taught together with lessons on sexual orientation and gender roles, according to the European Commission.
Some Member States are resisting the teaching of LGBT-related content in schools, thereby jeopardising access to sex education.
Bulgaria is the latest EU country to restrict young people’s access to information: its parliament voted overwhelmingly on August 7 to ban so-called LGBT+ “propaganda” in schools.
(Edited by Daniel Eck)
