Abstract
The study was conducted to explore factors associated with condom use of young Thai men conscripts. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were 159 conscripts in second year who served in the Royal Thai Army by lottery method. Demographic data, sexual history including condom use, HIV and STDs and knowledge were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Condom use at the last sex was 41.18% of the conscripts aged 20 - 27 years and secondary school education completed of 74.2%. 25.78% had experience with drugs used but injection was rare (6.9%). Age at the first sex was reported lowest at 11 years, 9.4% reported first sex with men and 21.38% were married. The participants have sexual history (last six months) with female only of 83.2%, male only of 4.1% and both of 14.6%. Among these only 12.6% reported every time of condom use and 19.5% never used condom. Older age, higher education, drinking alcohol, drugs use and higher knowledge were associated with condom use with statistical significance. Conclusions: Condom use among male Thai conscripts was low. Education and a condom use program are urgently needed to prevent future spread of HIV and STDs.
Highlights
Background and RationaleMilitary personnel have a high risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
They frequently have a high-risk behavior pattern which includes inconsistent condom use, sexual activity with multiple partners and the use of alcohol or drugs before having sexual intercourse [6] and are likely to be exposed to illicit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, they have risk-taking sexual behavior such as having sex with commercial sex-workers (CSW) and some persons have sex with men or are men who have sex with men (MSM) [7] [8]
Condom use was more significant with those who had tested for HIV and Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (Adjusted OR = 1.6, 95% confident interval (95%CI) = 0.8 - 3.9) and had higher knowledge of and [a more aware] attitude towards HIV and STDs (Table 4)
Summary
Military personnel have a high risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Despite the early absence of MSMspecific studies, research on HIV risk-behavior in young Thai men showed homosexual activity to be common among military conscripts, students, and factory workers. In these studies the prevalence of male-to-male sex ranged from 3.3% to 16.3% [16] and inconsistent condom use with men from 52.8% to 60.0% [17]. This study examined the sexual knowledge, attitudes and sex behaviors of young men conscripted to serve in the military This information may help in developing appropriate HIV prevention interventions for distinct populations of people in Thailand and elsewhere
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