Abstract
High HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women in Thailand suggest a vital need for targeted
interventions. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine and compare sexual risk behaviors, and demographic and behavioral
correlates of risk, among MSM and transgender women recruited from gay entertainment venue staff and community-based organization
(CBO) participants. We used venue-based sampling across nine sites in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Among 260 participants (57.3%
gay-identified, 26.9% heterosexual/bisexual-identified, 15.8% transgender; mean age = 26.7 years), nearly one-fifth (18.5%)
reported unprotected anal sex (UAS), half (50.4%) sex in exchange for money, and one-fifth (20.0%) STI diagnosis (past year).
Nearly one-fourth (23.1%) reported oral erectile dysfunction medication use and nearly one-fifth (19.2%) illicit drug use
(past 3 months). Overall, 43.1% indicated that healthcare providers exhibited hostility towards them. Gay entertainment venue
staff were significantly more likely to self-identify as heterosexual/bisexual (versus gay or transgender female), and to
have less than high school degree education, higher monthly income, to have engaged in sex in exchange for money, sex with
women and unprotected vaginal sex, but were significantly less likely to have engaged in UAS than CBO participants. Targeted
interventions for younger MSM and transgender women, for non gay-identified men, and strategies to address structural determinants
of risk, including low education and discrimination from healthcare providers, may support HIV prevention among MSM and transgender
women, and serve broader national HIV prevention efforts in Thailand.
interventions. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine and compare sexual risk behaviors, and demographic and behavioral
correlates of risk, among MSM and transgender women recruited from gay entertainment venue staff and community-based organization
(CBO) participants. We used venue-based sampling across nine sites in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Among 260 participants (57.3%
gay-identified, 26.9% heterosexual/bisexual-identified, 15.8% transgender; mean age = 26.7 years), nearly one-fifth (18.5%)
reported unprotected anal sex (UAS), half (50.4%) sex in exchange for money, and one-fifth (20.0%) STI diagnosis (past year).
Nearly one-fourth (23.1%) reported oral erectile dysfunction medication use and nearly one-fifth (19.2%) illicit drug use
(past 3 months). Overall, 43.1% indicated that healthcare providers exhibited hostility towards them. Gay entertainment venue
staff were significantly more likely to self-identify as heterosexual/bisexual (versus gay or transgender female), and to
have less than high school degree education, higher monthly income, to have engaged in sex in exchange for money, sex with
women and unprotected vaginal sex, but were significantly less likely to have engaged in UAS than CBO participants. Targeted
interventions for younger MSM and transgender women, for non gay-identified men, and strategies to address structural determinants
of risk, including low education and discrimination from healthcare providers, may support HIV prevention among MSM and transgender
women, and serve broader national HIV prevention efforts in Thailand.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-012-0275-4
- Authors
- Peter A. Newman, Centre for Applied Social Research, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1V4
- Sung-Jae Lee, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Center for Community Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Surachet Roungprakhon, Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
- Suchon Tepjan, Centre for Applied Social Research, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1V4
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986