HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviors among Myanmar Migrants in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined HIV risk behaviors and modifiable factors for prevention of HIV among Myanmar Migrated labors in Khao San Road tourisms area in Bangkok. 210 participants (Male 108, Female 102) aged 18 to 35 years from different workplace were purposively recruited and a self-administered questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Univariate analysis was used to describe high risk behaviors with gender role. Most of respondents in this study were age between 25 to 29years (mean age 26.4 years), Myanmar ethnicity, nearly half of them were single and found that their living condition and environmental condition was higher than Myanmar migrants in other provinces in Thailand. Majority of participants had score 9.73(minimum 0 to maximum 14) in HIV/AIDS knowledge. There was no statistically significant difference among male and female respondents about HIV/ AIDS knowledge. No injected drug users were found in this study. Condom use was still low in sex with sex workers and also in spouse among Myanmar migrants. There were significant associations between migrant status (p-value 0.027), occupation status (p-value- 0.005) and visiting to sex workers, between age of respondents (p-value 0.004) and alcohol drinking and between occupation status (p-value 0.002), monthly income (p-value 0.041),monthly support to family (p-value 0.03) and drug use. Based on the results of this study, it can be convinced that there is still need for improvement of HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV risk behaviors preventive programs among Myanmar migrant workers in Khao San Road, Phra Nakorn district, Bangkok Metropolitan.