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WHO warns of alarming decline in condom use among European teens. Study reveals 1 in 3 don't use protection, raising concerns about STDs and unplanned pregnancies.
A recent study has revealed that 30% of fifteen-year-olds reported using neither a condom nor a contraceptive pill during their last sexual encounter, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a warning about an "alarming decline" in condom use among adolescents.
The WHO's European office reports that condom use among sexually active adolescents has significantly decreased across Europe over the past decade. Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, expressed deep concern over these findings.
The study uncovered significant variations in condom use across different countries. Among girls, usage rates ranged from a low of 24% in Albania to a high of 81% in Serbia. For boys, Sweden reported the lowest rate at 43%, while Switzerland had the highest at 77%.
Researchers found that adolescents from lower-income families were less likely to use protection. This lack of contraceptive use could lead to serious consequences, including increased rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, higher healthcare costs, and potentially compromised futures for young people.
Dr. Kluge told the New York Post of the urgent need for action, stating, "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 stressed the urgent need for action, stating, "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."
This issue isn't limited to Europe. Health officials in the United States have also expressed alarm over rising STI rates, describing the situation as "out of control" as people of all ages increasingly forego condom use.
