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Estonian Human Development Report

Estonian Human Development Report - Eesti Koostöö Kogu

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significantly among Russian-speaking youth in recent<br />

years, while the corresponding percentage among <strong>Estonian</strong>-speaking<br />

youth has increased noticeably (ESPAD).<br />

In most countries, the percentage of cannabis users<br />

among young people falls between 10% and 20%. The<br />

indicators of 14 countries fall inside the 20–30% interval<br />

(including Estonia, where 31% of boys and 19% of girls have<br />

consumed cannabis) (Figure 2.5.7.). Cannabis use is not<br />

connected to the wealth of one’s family in most countries.<br />

Sexual behaviour<br />

Figure 2.5.7. Percentage of 15-year-olds who have<br />

consumed cannabis in Estonia as compared to some<br />

other countries<br />

40<br />

35<br />

30<br />

25<br />

20<br />

15<br />

10<br />

5<br />

0<br />

The incidence and distribution of sexually transmitted<br />

disease cases shows a growing trend, both among young<br />

people as well as other age groups. Young people are also<br />

a risk group with regard to HIV/AIDS, as approximately<br />

25% of all new cases are diagnosed among those who are<br />

21 or younger. The use of condoms is widely recognized<br />

as an effective method for avoiding the spreading of sexually<br />

transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), although<br />

the inconsistent use of prophylactics increases the danger<br />

of contracting sexually transmitted diseases as well as<br />

unwanted pregnancies. Condoms are the most common<br />

type of contraceptive among young people.<br />

The tendency for risky sexual behaviour has fallen<br />

somewhat in the case of young people in recent years. A<br />

comparison of the data for 2005 and 2003, for example,<br />

indicates that the percentage of young men who have had<br />

sex with more than one partner during the past year has<br />

decreased in all age groups (ages 14–29) and the percentage<br />

of young women who have had more than one sexual<br />

partner in the past years has decreased in the 14–18<br />

age group. Furthermore, condom use has increased across<br />

all age groups in the case of both young men and women.<br />

Young people in the 16–18 age group were most likely to<br />

use a condom when having sex for the first time (nearly<br />

75%), while young people aged 25–29 were the least likely<br />

to use one (approximately 40%); about 60% of all respondents<br />

used a condom during their first sexual intercourse<br />

with a new partner in the 14–15 and 19–24 age groups<br />

(Lõhmus & Trummal, 2007).<br />

On the other hand, a comparison of the same sets of<br />

data from 2005 and 2003 reveals that the number of young<br />

people who have had a sexual relationship with a random<br />

partner has increased. The percentage of young people who<br />

consistently use condoms has increased among the 16–18<br />

age group. However, the percentage of those who always use<br />

a condom when having sex with random partners has fallen<br />

in the three other age groups. According to the comparison<br />

of the two years, the share of 14–15-year-olds who used a<br />

condom every time when having sex with their stable part-<br />

Switzerland<br />

Source: HBSC 2005/2006<br />

Boys<br />

Girls<br />

USA ESTONIA Latvia Lithuania Finland Sweden<br />

Figure 2.5.8. Percentage of 15-year-olds who used a<br />

condom during their last sexual intercourse in Estonia<br />

as compared to some other countries<br />

100<br />

90<br />

80<br />

70<br />

60<br />

50<br />

40<br />

30<br />

20<br />

10<br />

0<br />

Spain ESTONIA United<br />

Kingdom<br />

Source: HBSC 2005/2006<br />

Boys<br />

Girls<br />

Latvia Lithuania Germany Finland Sweden<br />

ner during the past 12 months has decreased by 12%, while<br />

the corresponding figure for young adults (ages 19–29) has<br />

remained the same (Lõhmus & Trummal, 2007).<br />

In international comparison, young people in Estonia<br />

are more rational than most with regard to sexual behaviour<br />

(Figure 2.5.8.). The highest percentage of youth used<br />

a condom during their last sexual intercourse in Spain<br />

(89%) and the lowest percentage used a condom in Sweden<br />

(65%). Among <strong>Estonian</strong> respondents, 88% of the boys and<br />

81% of the girls confirmed having used a condom during<br />

their last sexual intercourse. Boys generally report having<br />

used a condom during their last sexual intercourse more<br />

frequently than girls (HBSC 2005/2006).<br />

2.6. Health services<br />

and their availability<br />

Health services are a set of all public and private organizations,<br />

institutions and resources devoted primarily<br />

to improving, maintaining and restoring health. Health<br />

systems include services aimed both at private individuals<br />

and the public, as well as activities for influencing the<br />

policies and arrangements of other fields in order for the<br />

latter to take into account social, environmental and economic<br />

health factors (WHO 2007). A graphic depiction of<br />

the health system’s different levels is provided in Figure<br />

2.6.1. Personal services include both medical and public<br />

43 |

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