Wrap it up, Zoomers!
The World Health Organization has issued a warning about an “alarming decline” in condom use among adolescents that is expected to lead to a long list of consequences, including higher STI rates and increased healthcare costs.
A recent study found that almost a third of 15-year-olds (30%) reported using neither a condom nor a contraceptive pill the last time they were sexually active.
If they did use a form of contraception, they were less likely to use a condom than a pill.
Condom use among sexually active adolescents has declined significantly over the past decade.
Teens from poorer, or “low-affluence,” families, were more likely to have reported not using a condom.
Condom use among girls was lowest in Albania (24%) and highest in Serbia (81%). For boys, the lowest rate was found in Sweden (43%), while the highest rate was in Switzerland (77%).
However, the experts warned that the “worrying” trend of unprotected sex among the school-aged children they surveyed seemed to be a “pervasive” issue across Europe.
This has put a concerning amount of young people at significant risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.
The issue will likely have “far-reaching consequences” including a rise of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and an increased risk of contracting STIs across the continent.
“While the report’s findings are dismaying, they are not surprising,” Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said in a statement.
The experts explained that a lack of sexual education and access to contraceptive methods along with a concerted effort to block sexual education has led to this shocking health crisis.
“Age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education remains neglected in many countries, and where it is available, it has increasingly come under attack in recent years on the false premise that it encourages sexual behavior, when the truth is that equipping young persons with the right knowledge at the right time leads to optimal health outcomes linked to responsible behavior and choices,” Dr. Kluge said.
The WHO issued the recent warning noting an “urgent need” to address the situation.
“We need immediate and sustained action, underpinned by data and evidence, to halt this cascade of negative outcomes, including the likelihood of higher STI rates, increased healthcare costs, and – not least – disrupted education and career paths for young persons who do not receive the timely information and support they need,” Dr. Kluge warned.
“Ultimately, what we are seeking to achieve for young persons is a solid foundation for life and love.”
But this isn’t just an issue confined to Europe.
Health officials in the US have been warning that the rise of life-threatening sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is “out of control” as people of all ages are ditching condoms.
