Quality of Life among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

The purpose of this study  to explore the level of quality of life among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and analyze the relationships between personal factors, recognition from family members, perceived health status, health behaviors, and quality of life among MSM living in Bangkok. Data were collected from 115 MSM, who participated in activities held by Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, by using Snowball sampling. The data were collected using WHOQOL- BREF (Thai version) questionnaire  and  were analyzed by descriptive statistic, Chi-Square, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient.

                 The research findings revealed that MSM had a good and a moderate quality of life accounting for 42.6% and 57.4% respectively. Psychological and social relationship domain was at a good level accounting for 57.4% and 50.4% respectively.  Most MSM perceived their healthy status accounting for 71.3%. Health protective behaviors and health promotion behaviors were positively related to quality of life at p<0.05 (r = 0.452, 0.342, and 0.417 respectively). General health state (THAI GHQ – 28) was negatively related to quality of life at p<0.05 (r = - 0.410). The  suggestion  to promote quality of life of MSM, family members and health care personnel should provide knowledge on health care, sleep, and emotional management. Health service center should be comprehensively established for specific group. It was advisable to enhance life security, pleasant accommodations, money saving, and proper health behaviors, especially prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. MSM were advised to change their non-monogamous behavior and reduce sexual risk behaviors by using condoms, perform proper sexual behaviors, have self-esteem, as well as have self-awareness and self-admiration to ensure their good quality of life.