Decline in HIV reported among young males in Thailand
Boyles, S.
Aids Weekly 1995: 15
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1069-1456 PMID: 12290554 Document Number: 293437
Because of the dramatic rise in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in Thailand, the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) started a biannual sentinel surveillance program of intravenous drug users, blood donors, pregnant women, and commercial sex workers (CSWs) in 1989. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) also began screening young men, who had been conscripted by lottery, for HIV-1 that year. The results of both programs indicated that the epidemic had spread beyond the traditional high risk groups into the general population. Since heterosexual transmission, particularly through CSWs, had been the principal source of HIV transmission, the government initiated a 100% condom use campaign and condom distribution program among CSWs and their clients. Condom use in men visiting CSWs increased from 50% in 1989 to 90% in June 1992, and the rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) reported from public clinics declined. The RTA screening program screened 311,108 young men between November 1989 and November 1994; demographic data were collected between November 1991 and May 1993, and in November 1994. The prevalence of HIV-1 among conscripts nationwide increased from 0.5% in 1989 to 3.5% in 1992; it reached 3.7% in 1993, but decreased to 3.0% in 1994. Although decreases were observed among men of all educational levels, from all regions, the greatest decrease occurred among those from the upper North (from 12.4% in 1992 to 7.9% in 1994) where the prevalence had been the highest. This information needs to be considered when planning HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trials.