Young people in Europe increasingly do without condoms - who warns!
Young people in Europe increasingly do without condoms - who warns!
Copenhagen - an alarming development is emerging in the area of sexual health of young people. According to a current report by the World Health Organization (WHO), fewer and fewer young people in Europe are turning to the use of condoms. The decline, which has been observed since 2014, leads to disturbing numbers with regard to unprotected sexual intercourse and the associated risks, including sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies.
As part of the examination, which took place over a period of eight years, several ten thousand 15-year-olds from a total of 42 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada were interviewed at regular intervals. The results show that a significant part of the respondents did without protective measures in the last sexual intercourse. Particularly alarming is the decline for young people who have used a condom: In boys this proportion decreased from 70 % in 2014 to only 61 % in 2022. In girls, the number fell from 63 % to 57 %.
Development in Germany
The results of the investigation show that de facto a third of the young people (30 %) used neither a condom nor other contraceptive methods such as the pill. In Germany, the use of condoms is on average in young people. The survey results reveal that 59 % of the sexually active boys and 58 % of girls in Germany provided 2022 to have used a condom during the last sexual intercourse - a noticeable decline in 72 % of boys and 68 % of girls in 2014.
With regard to other contraceptive methods, it can be seen that the pill is used in comparison in Germany comparatively more frequently. Only 16 % of the girls and 23 % of boys in Germany stated that neither the pill nor a condom. This is a positive exception compared to other countries, only Austria and Switzerland have even better results here.
lack of education and education
The data collected the WHO indicates considerable deficits in age -appropriate information and access to contraceptives. The regional director of the WHO, Hans Kluge, was concerned about the results, which, however, should not be considered surprisingly. In many countries, sexual education is still considered annoying or irrelevant, and existing programs are often criticized because they supposedly promote risky sexual behavior.
The main author of the report, András Költo from the University of Galway, emphasized that comprehensive sex education was a decisive factor in order to give young people the ability to make informed decisions about their sexuality. This education is particularly important during the transition phase from youth to adulthood and should cover topics such as approval, sexual orientation and intimate relationships. It is necessary to create safe spaces for discussions in which young people can express their questions and worries without fear of stigmatization.