Estonia’s Youth Sexual Health: Success & Challenges

Sexual health encompasses physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality, and indicators for young people in Estonia have shown marked improvement over the past two decades. While progress has been made in areas like HIV prevention and declining teenage birth rates, concerns remain regarding condom use and the prevalence of sexual abuse.

Improving Sexual Health Indicators in Estonia

According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is not simply the absence of disease, but a state of overall well-being. In Estonia, the number of new HIV cases has been decreasing over the last decade, with increased testing revealing a low prevalence in the general population. Cases among children and young people have also significantly declined, from two-thirds of new cases in the early 2000s to isolated incidents in recent years.

The incidence of other sexually transmitted infections has also decreased. While chlamydia remains the most common, its incidence has nearly tripled downward over the past ten years. The ratio of births and abortions among teenagers (ages 15–19) has also declined, reaching levels comparable to Nordic countries.

Sexual Experiences Among Estonian Youth

A 2021 survey found that 22 percent of Estonian youth aged 14–18 have had sexual intercourse. More than half have experienced masturbation, approximately half have kissed, over a third have engaged in petting over clothing, and fewer than a third in petting under clothing or while naked. The proportion of young people with sexual experience increases with age, rising to slightly over half by age 18.

The survey data indicates responsible sexual behavior among many young people, with a decline in the share experiencing intercourse, having multiple partners, and engaging in casual relationships. This trend is consistent across all demographics, with a particularly encouraging decrease in sexual experiences at very young ages.

Between 2003 and 2007, one in five 14–15-year-olds reported having had intercourse; this figure has more than halved to under 10 percent in recent data. The average number of partners per year for this age group has also decreased, from 2.3 in 2003 to 1.8 in 2021. Casual relationships among 14–15-year-olds have fallen from 45 percent in 2005 to 27 percent in 2021.

Declining Condom Use

While condoms are the only method that prevents both pregnancy and most sexually transmitted infections, their effective use is crucial. Among Estonian youth aged 14–18, 71 percent used a condom during their first sexual intercourse.

However, only half of young people in casual sexual encounters reported always using a condom. Condom use appears to be declining, particularly during first sexual intercourse, dropping from 83 percent among 14–15-year-olds to 65 percent. Thirty-nine percent of young people who had intercourse in the past 12 months did not use a condom the last time, often citing a steady partner and mutual trust as the reason.

Those who forgo condoms tend to use more substances, particularly drugs. They also express more negative attitudes toward condoms, finding them uncomfortable, inconvenient, and believing they reduce sexual pleasure. They also place less importance on the opinions of friends and partners regarding condom use and find it difficult to discuss the topic.

Insufficient condom-use skills are also a concern, with one in ten reporting a condom slipping or breaking during intercourse. Despite this, Estonian youth demonstrate higher condom use rates compared to several neighboring countries. A 2022 study showed 69 percent of 15-year-old girls and 71 percent of boys in Estonia used a condom during their last sexual intercourse, compared to averages of 57 percent and 61 percent across 43 reporting countries.

Prevalence of Sexual Abuse and the Need for Education

Sexual abuse remains a significant issue, with 45 percent of 16–18-year-olds reporting experiencing at least one form of abuse in their lifetime. Sexual harassment, primarily unwanted touching, is the most common experience (43 percent). Between 2 and 8 percent have experienced sexual violence, and fewer than one in ten have experienced online sexual abuse.

While the reported rates of sexual abuse have remained consistent between 2015 and 2021, the increase in reporting may reflect improved awareness and evolving societal understandings of what constitutes abuse, potentially due to the impact of sexual education.

Sexual education in schools is considered a key preventive measure, helping young people make healthy choices and fostering a sense of well-being. Schools address a range of topics, though physical health receives more emphasis than social health, pleasure, and enjoyment. Passive teaching methods are more common than interactive ones, such as practicing condom use or role-playing conversations about safe sex.

Young people themselves desire more diverse topic coverage, increased time devoted to the subject, real-life examples, and a more serious yet positive approach to sexual education. Support from parents, friends, and other adults working with youth is also crucial, with the ability to listen without judgment being particularly important.

This commentary was originally published in the March issue of the youth sector digital magazine MIHUS, published by the Education and Youth Board’s Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Agency.

—

Follow ERR News on Facebook and X and never miss an update!