Sexual behavior and attitudes regarding sexual transmitted disease among foreigners in Chiang Mai City Chiang Mai Province

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Published: May 2, 2017
Keywords:
Foreigner sexual behavior attitude sexual transmitted disease protection condom usage

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Panaddar Phutthakham
Public Health, Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tanawan Samleerat
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Recently, number of foreigners visiting Thailand has been increased. Increasing in sexual transmitted infections, thus, was affected because many foreigners may engage in risky sexual behavior while traveling.


Objectives: The aim of this study was learning about sexual behavior, and attitudes regarding sexually transmitted diseases, among foreigners in Chiang Mai city of Chiang Mai Province.


Materials and methods: It was a descriptive study of foreigners aged 18 years or older. Four hundred questionnaires were collected from foreigners around Thapae Gate, Night Bazaar, and Loi Kroh road during May-June 2016


Results: Fifty-seven percent of participants were male and 43% were female. Sixty-five percent were 18-29 years old. Foreigners (54%) came from European countries with duration of their stay in Chiang Mai less than 14 days (59.8%). Most of them (84.8%) reported having sex while staying in Chiang Mai and some had more than one sexual partner (22.5%). Sixty-four percent of those didn’t use condoms with their regular partner but did when having causal sex with a new partner. Some (15.5%) reported having a sexually transmitted disease in their life (15.5%) and 67% had ever taken STDs test. Most participants have normal attitude about risks attached to sexual behavior and a good attitude towards the use of condoms.


Conclusion: Some foreigners visiting Chiang Mai Province frequency reported unsafe sexual practices; risky sexual behavior such as having multiple partners, and irregular use of condoms. These participants, therefore, are at the greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. This information can be used as guideline for the sexual transmitted disease prevention between foreigners and local Thai people in Chiang Mai Province and other significant tourist areas in the future.


Journal of Associated Medical Sciences 2017; 50(2): 159-167. Doi: 10.14456/jams.2017.17

Article Details

How to Cite
Phutthakham, P., & Samleerat, T. (2017). Sexual behavior and attitudes regarding sexual transmitted disease among foreigners in Chiang Mai City Chiang Mai Province. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, 50(2), 159. Retrieved from https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/bulletinAMS/article/view/72152
Issue
Vol. 50 No. 2 (2017): May-August
Section
Research Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.

Author Biography

Tanawan Samleerat, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

B.Sc., Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, 2000 M.S., Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2003 Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2008 Ph.D., Sciences de la Vie et de la Santé , Université Francois Rabelais, Tours, France, 2008

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