AEGiS-10IAC: Risky sexual practices of northern Thai men and women: preliminary results.

10th International AIDS Conference

Yokohama, Japan — Aug 7-12, 1994

Risky sexual practices of northern Thai men and women: preliminary results.

Int Conf AIDS 1994 Aug 7-12; 10:398 (abstract no. PD0773)
Im-Em W; National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra.

OBJECTIVE: To explore sexual practices which may facilitate risk of STD infection.

METHODS: From Aug-Oct 1993, 50 informants were interviewed about their life histories and their sexual behavior. This was followed by a population survey of 600 males and females aged 15-49 systematically selected from 12 villages in Chiang Mai. Further investigations were done using FGDs in two villages.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the results of the survey will be completed in May 1994. Preliminary results indicate risky sexual practices among certain groups of Northern men including 'fang mook' or pearl insertion which is the insertion of round stones underneath the skin at the shaft of penis. Benz circumcision is the cut of the prepuce into multiple segments. Both practices are done in the belief that this would increase sexual pleasure for their female partners. Among women, some douche after having sex by using various solutions. Some deeply wash out the vagina with their fingers. The survey data will report how common these practices are and why they are being done along with other risk behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: These practices cause irritation, abrasion, inflammation and infection of the genitals which may in turn facilitate STD/HIV transmission. They may further explain the high rate of HIV infection among certain groups of Thai.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV Infections, HIV, Learning, Memory, HIV Seronegativity, Recognition (Psychology), Social Behavior, Human, Female, Male, immunology, ICA10
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