Sexual behavior of young men in Thailand: regional differences and evidence of behavior change
Kitsiripornchai, S.; Markowitz, L.E.; Ungchusak, K.; Jenkins, R.A.; Leucha, W.; Limpitaks, T.; Sangkharomya, S.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 8(3): 282-288
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0894-9255 DOI: 10.1097/00042560-199807010-00013Document Number: 278229
An anonymous, self-administered behavioural survey was conducted in Royal Thai Army (RTA) conscripts from 19 provinces throughout Thailand in May 1996. All (to a maximum of 350) Thai men who entered the RTA in each province were selected. Data from 5474 men were included in this analysis. High-risk behaviours were reported nationwide; however, some regional differences were found. Men from the upper North were more likely to have had a commercial sex worker (CSW) as their first sexual partner (42%) than men from any other region. However, in the past year reported sex with CSWs in the upper North (41%) was similar to or lower than those in other regions. Consistent condom use with CSWs was higher in the North than in any other region. Condom use at first sex with CSWs increased with later years at first sex in all regions. These data suggest that past higher-risk behaviour among young men in the upper northern part of Thailand may have contributed to the concentration of the HIV epidemic in that region. Risk behaviours, particularly unprotected sex, appear to be decreasing nationwide.