Economic Hardship: High Number Of Teenagers, Adults Engage In Sex Without Condom – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm that a high number of teenagers and adults engage in sexual activities without using condoms or any other contraceptive.

In its report on Thursday, WHO said economic hardship and social influences were responsible for the increase in sex without the use of condom or other contraceptives.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the report from the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe revealed that the decreased condom use is putting young people at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, and unplanned pregnancies.

“The report, based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, surveyed over 242,000 15-year-olds across 42 countries in Europe, Central Asia, and Canada between 2014 and 2022.

“The findings indicate a pervasive decrease in condom use, with the proportion of sexually active adolescents using a condom at last intercourse falling from 70 percent to 61 percent among boys and 63 percent to 57 percent among girls between 2014 and 2022,” it read.

The report added, “Furthermore, nearly a third of adolescents reported using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill at last intercourse, with socioeconomic differences also playing a role.

“Adolescents from low-income families were more likely to report not using protection than those from more affluent families.”

According to WHO, there is more need for comprehensive health education for adolescents across all countries on the importance of safe sexual relationships.