Health Risk Behaviors among HIV-Infected Youth in Bangkok, Thailand

Rongkavilit, Chokechai; Naar-King, Sylvie; Chuenyam, Theshinee; Wang, Bo; Wright, Kathryn; Phanuphak, Praphan

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.11.004

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 40, Issue 4 , Pages 358.e1-358.e8, April 2007

Health Risk Behaviors among HIV-Infected Youth in Bangkok, Thailand

Chokechai Rongkavilit, M.D.
- The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Chokechai Rongkavilit, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 3901 Beaubien Blvd., Detroit, MI 48201.
Sylvie Naar-King, Ph.D.
- The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
Theshinee Chuenyam, R.N.
- HIV Netherlands-Australia-Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT) and Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand
Bo Wang, Ph.D.
- The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
Kathryn Wright, D.O.
- The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
Praphan Phanuphak, M.D., Ph.D.
- HIV Netherlands-Australia-Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT) and Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand

Received 24 May 2006; accepted 3 November 2006. published online 05 February 2007.

Abstract

Purpose

To describe health risk behaviors, including sexual risk, alcohol/substance use, and medication adherence in HIV-infected youth in Bangkok. Despite the high burden of HIV in developing countries compared with developed countries, considerably more information is available in the latter compared with the former regarding adolescent health risk behaviors. Currently there is no information on health risk behaviors among HIV-infected youth in Thailand.

Methods

HIV-infected Thai youth 16–25 years of age were enrolled. Participants were seen at a baseline visit and a 3-month visit to assess health risk behaviors. The interviews were completed at both visits.

Results

There were 29 men and 41 women. Twenty-eight participants (40%) were on antiretroviral therapy at baseline visit. Mean adherence was 94.3–98.2% over the past month and 90.9–96.3% over the past 3 months, though up to one-third reported less than 95% adherence. The proportion of youth with consistent condom use in the previous 30 days at baseline (55.6%) was comparable to the proportion at 3-month visit (58.3%) (p = 1.0). Men were more likely to have a partner with unknown human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and were less likely to disclose HIV status to their partners. Forty-nine youth (70.0%) had used alcohol in the past 12 months; nine (12.9%) had used more than 20 times. Approximately 1/4 had used alcohol in the previous 30 days at baseline and at 3-month visit. Substance use besides cigarettes was uncommon.

Conclusion

Levels of treatment adherence were high among Thai youth receiving antiretroviral therapy. Alcohol use was prevalent, though other drug use was not. Sexual acts without a condom in both genders and nondisclosure among males were concerning. Interventions focusing on sexual risk reduction for HIV-infected youth are needed and must be scaled up in Thailand.

Keywords: HIV, Youth, Thailand, Sexual risks, Alcohol, Substance, Adherence, Disclosure