Multiple sexual partners and condom use among long-distance truck drivers in Thailand
Podhisita, C.; Wawer, M.J.; Pramualratana, A.; Kanungsukkasem, U.; McNamara, R.
Aids Education and Prevention Official Publication of the International Society for Aids Education 8(6): 490-498
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0899-9546 PMID: 9010509 Document Number: 463245
Sexual behaviours of long-distance truck drivers in Thailand were investigated to define patterns and determinants critical to the transmission of HIV. This article reports on commercial, spousal, and other sexual partners and on condom use among 327 drivers interviewed in 1992. 48% reported a commercial sex worker (CSW) as their first partner and 87% had contact with a CSW at some time. Median lifetime number of all partners was 29. In the 6 months prior to interview, 35% had 2 or more partners. Among the currently married, 23% had CSW contact within the past 6 months; 13% had contact with a nonmarital, noncommercial partner; and about 8% reported marital as well as both CSW and noncommercial relationships in the same time period. Over 50% of the unmarried reported sexual relations in the 6 months; 25% reported contacts with both CSW and noncommercial partners. About 40% of subjects visiting CSWs used condoms inconsistently or not at all. Drivers were knowledgeable about AIDS and prevention measures, with some important misconceptions, but self-assessment of risk of HIV showed a negligible sense of their personal vulnerability.Editorial Comment:This editor finds it fascinating, and frightening, that the use of condoms is still so low among long-distance truck drivers visiting commercial sex workers in a country with both high HIV seroprevalence rates and massive condom promotion programmes.