FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PENILE AMPUTATION IN THAILAND

This report describes factors associated with the act oi penile amputa tion by three female partners in southern Thailand. While gender-speci fic roles and paternalistic behaviors are normative in Thai society, s pecific precipitating factors for the three amputations included: (I) an immediate financial crisis that adversely affected one oi the child ren in the family; (2) ingestion oi drugs or alcohol by the husband im mediately before the event; (3) public humiliation oi the wile in the presence oi a mia noi (secondary wile) or concubine within the week th at preceded the incident. Understanding women's cultural preservation in Thailand may promote culturally sensitive and meaningful nursing ca re.