Decline in condom use among young people: a phenomenon linked to the decline in “interventions with students” according to the SNIES-UNSA union

The general secretary of SNIES-UNSA (National Union of Nurses and Health Educators UNSA), Gwenaëlle Durand, believes on Thursday August 29 on franceinfo that the decline in condom use among adolescents can be explained by the decline “interventions with students”. “Normally, in the law, it is three interventions per level and per year. We are far from this number of interventions, due to lack of human resources or lack of time”explains the secretary general, who is also a nurse in a vocational high school in the Lyon academy. Gwenaëlle Durand is responding to the WHO report published on Thursday, which indicates that condom use among sexually active adolescents has fallen significantly in Europe over the past ten years, with proportions of unprotected sexual intercourse “worrying”.

The Secretary General also emphasizes that “these interventions [dans les établissements scolaires] have been much criticized, sometimes by groups of parents, sometimes by associations”, while they are “framed” and that professionals are “trained for this”. “We are under a little pressure, even a lot”regrets the nurse who explains that her colleagues “so they go there gropingly.” “We always warn families that we will intervene […] We even have parents who do not accept and who withdraw their students during these interventions.”

However, Gwenaëlle Durand assures that “Sex education is not about sex, it goes well beyond that. It is also about equality between girls and boys, consent, the body in general. Afterwards, if there is a question about using a condom, we comply with their request.”

Also asked about AIDS and how young people view this disease, she replied that it is “an illness like any other for them”. “The generations of the 80s and 90s were very afraid of it. Today, it is a bit trivialized. They respond that there are medications and that we can have a normal life, which is true, but we cannot be cured and having an illness for life is terrible and we say so”. The Secretary General confirms that there is “really a change” and that there is “less vigilance about this disease”. A speech thati “worry” the professional.