Drop back in Dutch sexual health
At the turn of the century, a marked deterioration took place with regard to teenage pregnancies and abortion rates. Whereas the Netherlands had long been number one with respect to abortion figures, several countries (Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany) have sometimes shown lower rates during the last decade.
Another illustration of deteriorating trends is that sexual health care in the Netherlands, specifically this low threshold, anonymous care targeting young people by the ‘Rutgershuizen’, was more widespread in the seventies and eighties of the previous century than it is today.
It seems that at one point, sexual health was considered self-evident, a matter of course. Following the dialectics of progress, policies and investments in sexual health fell back, with all negative consequences as we have witnessed them of late. Presently, attempts are made to restore the old situation and once again improve the services for, especially, young people and specific groups at risk.
