A recent WHO report highlights a troubling decline in condom use among sexually active young people between 2014 and 2022. For boys, the proportion who used a condom during their last sexual encounter fell from 70% to 61%, while for girls, it decreased from 63% to 57%. Additionally, nearly a third of adolescents (30%) reported using neither condoms nor contraceptive pills.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, attributed these figures to the lack of comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education, which remains insufficient in many countries and faces opposition based on misconceptions. “Education must go beyond just providing information,” Dr. András Költő from the University of Galway emphasized. He advocates for creating safe spaces where young people can openly discuss intimate relationships.
The WHO report calls for policymakers, educators, and health workers to implement broad-based education programs and develop skills for effective communication and decision-making. Financial and political support are crucial for establishing robust sex education programs. The 2022 study by the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality supports this need, urging investment in educational staff and the sharing of best practices across EU member states.
Despite compulsory sex education in 19 EU countries, some regions face challenges, including Bulgaria’s recent ban on LGBT+ “propaganda” in schools, which further restricts access to crucial information. “We have the evidence, the tools, and the strategies to improve adolescent sexual health outcomes. What we need is the political will and resources to make it happen,” said Dr. Margreet de Looze of Utrecht University.
