WHO Reports Rising Trend Of Unprotected Sex Among Teens And Adults Amid Economic Struggles

WHO Reports Rising Trend Of Unprotected Sex Among Teens And Adults Amid Economic Struggles

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the increasing number of teenagers and adults engaging in sexual activities without using condoms or other contraceptives. In a report released on Thursday, the WHO attributed this trend to economic hardship and social pressures……CONTINUE READING 

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the WHO’s Regional Office for Europe highlighted that the decline in condom use is exposing young people to higher risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 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 revealed a significant drop in condom use, with the percentage of sexually active adolescent boys using condoms during their last intercourse decreasing from 70 percent to 61 percent, and from 63 percent to 57 percent among girls over the same period.

Additionally, the report noted that nearly a third of adolescents reported using neither a condom nor the contraceptive pill during their last sexual encounter, with socioeconomic factors influencing these behaviors. Adolescents from low-income families were more likely to forgo protection compared to their peers from wealthier families.

The WHO emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive health education for adolescents in all countries, stressing the importance of safe sexual practices.