A lot of young people in Canada engage in sex.

However, not everyone use condoms during vaginal and anal intercourse.

This puts them at a great risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.

These were revealed in a new study released Wednesday (September 16).

“Substantial numbers of youth in Canada are sexually active and not taking appropriate actions to reduce outcomes that may negatively impact their sexual and reproductive health,” according to the paper.

The study titled "Sexual behaviours, condom use and other contraceptive methods among 15- to 24-year-olds in Canada" was based on the results of the 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Michelle Rotermann of the health analysis division at Statistics Canada, and Alexander McKay of the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada, wrote the report.

“A substantial proportion of youth in Canada are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy, and the findings have implications for comprehensive sexual health education and related policies and programs,” Rotterman and McKay stated.

Data from the 2015-2016 health survey indicate that 54.1 percent of 15- to 24-year-olds reported having had sexual intercourse in the past year.

That figure represents 2.2 million young people.

Of the sexually active youth, 60.1 percent reported using a condom the last time they had sex.

Rotterman and McKay noted that the likelihood of using a condom decreased with age, from 79.9 percent among 15- to 17-year-olds to 55.1 percent among 20- to 24-year-olds.

The highest prevalence of condom use was in Saskatchewan at 70.2 percent.

In British Columbia, the rate was 60.3 percent. Ontario had 67 percent.

Condom use in Quebec was the lowest at 48 percent.

Some 47.6 percent of youth who did not use a condom cited being in a monogamous relationship as reason.

Also, 47.2 percent reported using another method of contraception as reason for not having condom.

“For individuals in monogamous relationships, there can be a perception that the risk of STIs is reduced and condom use is, therefore, unnecessary,” the authors noted.

However, they pointed out that this “reasoning can put individuals at increased risk for STIs, since other research has indicated that monogamy is often not an effective STI-prevention strategy”.

Details here.