PLANNED SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG AUSTRALIAN VISITORS TO THAILAND

Objective: To research the knowledge of AIDS and other sexually transm itted diseases among young Australian tourists to Thailand, and their intended sexual behaviour Design and setting: A cross-sectional survey by anonymous, self-administered questionnaire, of persons seeking pre -travel medical advice in private clinics in five Australian cities. P articipants: 213 consecutive patients travelling to Thailand without a spouse or partner. Results: Only 34% of the sample reported a definit e intention not to have sex in Thailand. Regarding choice of potential partners: 24.5% more men than women said they would have sex with a T hai national; 13.7% of men said they would have sex with a ''bar girl' '; and 21.7% more women than men said they would choose a fellow Austr alian traveller. Eighty-two per cent of the sample reported that they would use condoms 100% of the time, and there was no significant diffe rence between the number of men and women who expressed this intention . Conclusions: Although not obviously ''sex tourists'', many young Aus tralian travellers are likely to have sex while visiting Thailand. The se data have important implications for education and prevention progr ams to control the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and ot her sexually transmitted diseases.