A recent World Health Organization report warns of a concerning decline in condom use among sexually active teenagers globally, raising alarms about the potential rise in sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.

The World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe, headquartered in Copenhagen, has raised serious concerns following its latest report on the declining use of condoms among sexually active young people and teenagers. The report highlights a troubling trend that could lead to a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancies, and unsafe abortions worldwide.

The study, which analysed data from surveys conducted between 2014 and 2022 with thousands of 15-year-olds across 42 countries, revealed that only 61% of sexually active boys and 57% of sexually active girls under 16 use condoms. More alarmingly, nearly one-third of these teenagers do not use any form of protection at all.

Socioeconomic disparities further exacerbate the problem, with teenagers from poorer backgrounds more likely to not use any contraceptive methods at all compared to their wealthier peers (33% compared with 25%).

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO's Regional Director for Europe, described the report's findings as "dismaying, but not surprising". He explains that "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 behaviour".

The WHO attributes this concerning trend to significant gaps in sexual education. The report stresses the critical need for comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual health education, and resources, further calling on policymakers to prioritise investments in policies and environments that support adolescent health and rights.