There is a growing, and persistent concern among health care practitioners in Greece surrounding awareness about sexual health among young people.
According to a report by Kathimerini, doctors have noted an increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and a rise in the number of abortions being carried out on young women.
It is estimated that around 150,000 abortions take place in Greece each year – a number that has risen during the years of the financial crisis – of which 25 per cent are carried out on females aged 16 and under.
In 2017 at the 6th Pan Hellenic Conference of Gynecological Endocrinology in Athens, a number of leading doctors expressed their concern over the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions amongst teenagers.
Doctors say that many of the young women they encounter are poorly informed about gynaecological issues, and cited the fact that sex education has yet to be made a priority on the agenda of Greek schools, which Panagiotis Christopoulos, a gynaecologist specialising in adolescent issues, says is a significant part of the problem.
“There is a complete ignorance about matters of sexual health, contraception and protection from STDs,” Dr Christopoulos said.
Studies have shown that 73 per cent of young people aged between 14 and 16 have engaged in sexual activity of some kind.
Coitus interruptus, know colloquially as the withdrawal method, is the most popular form of contraception used by young Greeks, followed by condoms, and then the contraceptive pill, which is only used by four per cent of young women.
Aside from long-term contraceptive options, the condom is particularly encouraged given it is the only option that protects against STDs
Part of the problem when it comes to adequate education on the matter however is the challenge being posed by parents. Dr Christopoulos revealed that he has offered to run sex education classes on a voluntary basis at a number of schools, but has been faced with opposition, mainly from parents.