Adolescent sexual health behavior in Thailand: implications for prevention of cervical cancer

pHealth 2021

The number of young people who have had sex at an early age increases in proportion, it concerns unsafe sexual behaviors, teenage pregnancy, HIV aids and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study examines the health behaviors and factors predicting sexual risk behaviors pertaining to teenage pregnancy among adolescents in Thailand. Adolescents consulted the reproductive health center about problems with the same gender. The factors of adolescent reproductive behaviors were significantly associated with age, education level, and the perception of peer norms. Receiving social support from media information also significantly correlated with those behaviors. The results recommend that to prevent premature pregnancy, adolescents should protect themselves. Parents should take the issue of social media use by their teenagers very seriously.

2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual risk behaviors and identify factors influencing sexual risk behaviors among early adolescents studying at primary schools in Thailand.This cross-sectional analytical research study used 3-stage cluster sampling and included 193 males and 230 females aged 10-12 years old. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics. The factors influencing sexual risk behaviors were analyzed using chi-square, binary logistic regression, and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI, AOR). The results revealed the mean age of the early adolescents was 11.03 (SD = 2.97) years, 86.3% were living with parents, and 71.6%of their parental statuses were married. A total of 71.2%, with more girls than boys (45.4 versus 25.8%) as participants, had a low level of sexual risk behavior. Variables which could significantly influence sexual risk behaviors include ge...

Journal of Population and Social Studies, 2017

This cross-sectional analysis examines the factors influencing sexual behaviors, no-sex experience, safe sexual behaviors and unsafe sexual behaviors among adolescents, and the degree of sexual risk behaviors among sexually experienced adolescents by using web-based questionnaires. The participants were 3,192 Thai adolescents ages 15-19 and studying at secondary and vocational schools. Data were analyzed by using multinomial logistic regression analysis and multilevel regression analysis. Among all participants, 769 adolescents reported having had sexual experience defined as sexual intercourse (prevalence=24.09). Unsafe sexual behaviors escalated with age, enrollment in vocational school, greater perceived peer approval and sexual double standards. Unsafe sexual behaviors decreased with male gender, living with both parents having a higher sexual risk behavioral attitude and sexual message communication. The results revealed that school type was the greatest predictor influencing sexual risk behaviors followed by peer approval and sexual behaviors, type of family structure, living arrangements, sex, age, sexual risk behavioral attitude, sexual double standards and sexual message communication. In today's society, external environmental factors have greater influence on sexual risk behaviors, especially school environment. And each adolescent has different contexts related to sexual behaviors. Hence, we should consider differences in individual, family and school contexts when developing an effective health system that promotes sexual health and sexual risk behavior prevention among adolescents, one that will lead to decreased negative outcomes from sexual behaviors among adolescents.

TheScientificWorldJournal, 2011

Adolescent sexuality is a relevant public health issue, as it affects risk to contract HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The assessment of prevalence of sexual intercourse among adolescents may guide policies and programmes aimed at reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections among this age group. Using data from the Thailand Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2008, we assessed the prevalence of sexual intercourse in the last 12 months and its associated factors among adolescents (N = 2758). Overall the prevalence of sexual intercourse in the past 12 months was 11.0% (14.6% males and 7.6% females). Variables positively associated with the outcome in multivariable analysis were male gender (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.14-242), older age, ≥15 years (OR = 2.60, 1.80-3.74), current alcohol use (OR = 2.22, 1.46-3.36), psychosocial distress (OR = 2.11, 1.44-3.09) and among females current smoking (OR = 5.47, 1.62-18.48), lifetime drug use (AOR = 4.35, 1...

Nursing & Health Sciences, 2012

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of parents and adolescents toward sexual risk-taking behaviors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 parents and 30 adolescents (aged 13-14 years) in Bangkok, and were analyzed by using coding and thematic analysis. The results showed that although parents generally believed that Thai teens begin to have sex at an early age and engage in sexual risk-taking behaviors, they trusted that their teens would follow parental guidance and rules and not engage in sexual activity at this age. Most of the Thai teens reported that their parents were not really aware of their sexual behaviors because of their tendency to keep their sexual stories secret for fear of being scolded, blamed, and punished. The teens also reported that they wanted their parents to listen, give them warmth and more freedom, and be more in touch with their activities. Parents expressed their need for knowledge and skills so that they could help guide their adolescent children to avoid sexual risk-taking behaviors. A family intervention specifically aimed at empowering Thai urban parents is needed.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2013

STI prevalence and risks in a sample of rural Thai adolescents and young adults (14-29 years old) were examined. Unprotected sex with a casual partner conferred the greatest risk for prevalent STIs, particularly for younger adolescents and alcohol use increased the STI risk for women but not for men. Key words/phrases Thailand; adolescents; sexually transmitted infections; gender; social norms Thailand has experienced a significant decrease in HIV infection over the past two decades, with the greatest reductions in prevalence observed among the most at-risk populations 1, 2, 3. Despite this notable prevention success in controlling a former HIV epidemic (due in large part to the adoption of a government-initiated nationwide education and prevention campaigns 4, 5), Thailand's HIV epidemic is thought to be poised for resurgence. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for adolescent females and second most common cause of death for adolescent and young adult males (15-24 years) 6. Between 2000 and 2004, new sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases reported among Thai students increased from 3% to 10% 6. Thailand is experiencing a cultural transition in sexual norms and practices, particularly among adolescents and young adults 7, 8. An increase in the acceptance of premarital sex coupled with a decrease in condom use among youth and young adults 9 has been identified as one of the threats to Thailand's continued HIV prevention success 1. This creates an emerging susceptible population which will require new prevention strategies if Thailand is to maintain its goal of reducing its HIV epidemic. Limited information exists on the state of STIs in rural areas of Thailand; therefore, the current analysis examines the STI prevalence and associated gender-and age-specific risk factors among a representative sample of youth in rural Thailand.

Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 2011

Using a quasi-experimental, pre-post test, two groups design, this study sought to examine the effectiveness of a youth-led educational program on sexual and reproductive health for Thai early adolescents. The sample consisted of 169 students from two primary schools in a northern province of Thailand. Students from one school (n=80) were assigned to the experimental group, while students from the other school (n=89) were assigned to the control group. Students assigned to the experimental group received a youth-led educational program on sexual and reproductive health, while those in the control group received the school's usual educational program regarding sexual and reproductive health. Data were gathered on both groups, prior to and after the experimental group's completion of the youth-led program, by way of six questionnaires that assessed: demographic characteristics; sexual and reproductive health knowledge and attitude; sexual risk behavior attitudes; pros and cons of sexual involvement; attitude toward condom use; and safe sex and refusal sex self-efficacy. Analyses of the data included the use of: descriptive statistics; chi-square; Fisher's exact test; independent t-test; paired t-test; and, ANOVA with repeated measures. Results revealed significant differences between the experimental and control groups, three months after the educational program, in terms of: knowledge and attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health; pros of sexual involvement; and, attitude toward condom use. However, no significant differences were noted between the two groups regarding: sexual risk behavior attitudes; cons of sexual involvement; and, safe sex and refusal sex self-efficacy. The findings suggest a youth-led program is beneficial in strengthening some aspects of adolescents' understanding of sexual and reproductive health.

BMC research notes, 2017

Sexual health is one of the key dimensions of health across all ages. Understanding risky sexual behaviors remains an important area of public health research. This study aimed to explore sexual health, risky sexual behaviors and factors associated with recent condom use as condom use is considered a main intervention proven to reduce negative health consequences of risky sexual behaviors, specifically related to sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique survey was conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Information was obtained about age of first sexual intercourse, sexual activity, condom use, number of partners and history of drug/alcohol use prior to sexual activities within the past 3 months. A weighted analysis was performed to account for data clustering. It is estimated that most men (93%) and women (86%) in Chiang Mai have engaged in sexual intercourse. More than 70% of the people in Chiang Mai over age 30 remai...

2022

Background: Worldwide, Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) issues comprise a third of health problems for women aged 15-44. SRH education equips people with knowledge of concepts around sexuality and reproduction, and the attitudes and skills help to make informed decisions to prevent sexual and reproductive ill-health problems, including unplanned pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of older adolescents relating to SRH, examining their attitudes toward sex and contraception, and to identify the gaps in decision-making to prevent risk-taking behaviour.Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was undertaken with 30 adolescents aged 18-19, purposively and snowball sampled from a university in Northern Thailand from July 2020 to January 2021. In-depth individual interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analysed in ATLAS.ti version 9, using...

Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2010