Substance Use and HIV-Related Sexual Risk Behaviors among Myanmar Migrant Workers in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand

Abstract

The migration from Myanmar to Thailand was already known since the early 1990’s. But little is known about the substance use and sexual risk behavior in the migrants’ population in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was carried out to Myanmar migrant workers in February 2013. The main purpose of this study was to access current situation of substance use and sexual risk behaviors. The purposively selected 308 participants of the study were 18-56 years of age with 53.9% males and 46.1% females. This study was conducted by the use of an interview questionnaire after approval from the ethical review committee from Chulalongkorn University.  Among the respondents, ever smoking was found 52.4% in the males and 2.1% in the females. Ever alcohol drinking was found 80.7% in males and 10.6% in females and only one male methamphetamine user with no injection drug user was found. The low level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS was associated with being females (59.2%) (p=0.008) and low level of education (60.7%) (p<0.000). The current drinking status was associated with being males (77.7%), higher income (63.4%) and ever tobacco use (76.7%) with the p-value of <0.000. Sex after alcohol use was associated with older age (40%) (p= 0.001) and being married (42%) (p<0.000). This study acted as a baseline for further studies as there still need to be studied on the social behaviors on the substances use including hazardous drinking and the sexual behaviors. Interventions are needed to focus the special consideration to include females in the HIV/AIDS knowledge promotion program and to give the early education to the young males to prevent alcohol drinking throughout their lives.