Condom use among sexually active adolescents has fallen significantly in Europe over the past 10 years, with “alarming” rates of unprotected sex, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published today.

“This situation exposes young people to a significant risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies,” WHO Europe said.

According to the data gathered from more than 242,000 teenagers aged 15 in 42 countries in the WHO Europe coverage area, which includes central Asia, the proportion of boys who reported using a condom at their most recent intercourse was 61% in 2022, down from 70% in 2014.

The percentage of girls who said they used a condom in their most recent intercourse fell to 57% from 63% over the same period.

Almost a third of teenagers (30%) reported not using a condom or birth control pill during their most recent intercourse, a rate that has remained nearly constant since 2018.

Birth control pill use also remains stable in 2022 compared to 2014, with 26% of 15-year-olds saying they used it at their most recent intercourse.

The research also showed that 33% of teenagers coming from poorer families reported using neither a condom nor the birth control pill, compared to 25% of teenagers from wealthier families.

“Many countries neglect comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education and, where it is available, it has come under increasing attack in recent years for encouraging sexual behaviours,” said WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge.

“Actually providing the right knowledge to young people at the right time allows us to have the best health outcomes,” he added.

For the WHO, in addition to the increase in STDs and unplanned pregnancies, insufficient sex education causes an increase in the cost of health services and disrupts the school and work life of young people.

“We are reaping the bitter fruits of these reactionary efforts and the worst is yet to come if governments, health authorities, the education sector and other important actors do not recognize the root causes of the current situation and take steps to correct it,” the WHO concluded. .