This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

One in four sexually active young people in the UK fail to use any form of contraception with a new partner, a survey revealed.

The figure prompted health campaigners to call on the government to give sex and relationships education in schools a higher priority.

Personal hygiene was rated as the most important consideration, ahead of contraception, when preparing for a date that could lead to sex.

The worldwide poll was carried out by Marie Stopes International for World Contraception Day on 26 September. The UK results revealed 16% of young people who admitted to having unprotected sex said they had forgotten to use contraception with a new partner, 13% said their partner preferred not to use it and 19% said they failed to take precautions because they were drunk.

Tracey McNeill, vice-president of UK and Europe at Marie Stopes International, said: "We are calling on the coalition government to put sex and relationships education back on the agenda and ensure all schools, including faith schools, teach a standardised curriculum to 15 year olds.

"This survey shows that more than half of the respondents had already had sex by their 18th birthday and the government's own data shows, 83% are sexually active by the same age.

"This highlights that schools are the best way to deliver quality information to young people before they become sexually active."

McNeill added: "Where sex and relationships education is taught in conjunction with contraceptive information, more young people practise safe sex."

The survey revealed 32% of young people in the UK said they sometimes felt confused about the different contraception options and did not know which method was best for them and their partner. A total of 19% believe the "withdrawal method" is an effective contraception.

And worldwide, 31% of young people have a close friend or relative who has had an unplanned pregnancy.

The organisation said there was also a "head in the sand" approach to sexually transmitted infections.