Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Behaviors in Rural Thai Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

In Brief Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence and risks in a sample of rural Thai adolescents and young adults (14–29 years) were examined. Unprotected sex with a casual partner conferred the greatest risk for prevalent STIs, particularly for younger adolescents, and alcohol use increased the STI risk for women but not for men. A cross-sectional analysis of youth (14–29 years) in 6 rural districts of Thailand revealed age- and sex-dependent effects of alcohol-related and sexual risk behaviors on prevalent HIV and sexually transmitted infections.