SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG MEN IN THAILAND - REGIONAL DIFFERENCES AND EVIDENCE OF BEHAVIOR-CHANGE

An anonymous, self-administered behavioral survey was conducted in Roy al Thai Army (RTA) conscripts from 19 provinces throughout Thailand in May 1996. All (to a maximum of 350) Thai men who entered the RTA in e ach province were selected. Data from 5474 men were included in this a nalysis. High-risk behaviors were reported nationwide; however, some r egional differences were found. Men from the upper North were more lik ely to have had a commercial sex worker (CSW) as their first sexual pa rtner (42%) than men from any other region. However, in the past year, reported sex with CSWs in the upper North (41%) was similar to or low er than those in other regions. Consistent condom use with CSWs was hi gher in the North than in any other region. Condom use at first sex wi th CSWs increased with later years at first sex in all regions. These data suggest that past higher-risk behavior among young men in the upp er northern part of Thailand may have contributed to the concentration of the HIV epidemic in that region. Risk behaviors, particularly unpr otected sex, appear to be decreasing nationwide.