Thai Youths Rank Poorly On Contraceptive Use

[webfact]

WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY

Thai youths rank poorly on contraceptive use

By Veena Thoopkrajae

The Nation

Published on September 26, 2009

An alarming number of Thai teenagers and young adults are at risk from having sex without proper protection, a new study has revealed on the occasion of World Contraception Day today.

Some 40 per cent of them do not discuss contraception before their first sexual encounter.

Even more frightening for parents and educators is that the age of first sexual intercourse in Thailand continues to drop.

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

About 19.2 per cent of births in Thailand, or 150,000, happen to women under 20, and 30 per cent of the abortion-related hospital admissions are also among those under 20, said Dr Nanta Auamkul, director of the Health Department Bureau of Technical Advisers.

The survey, conducted in 15 countries by research and market-information group Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), was entitled "Teen Sexual Intercourse and Contraception". It showed Thai youths, along with those in Turkey, China, Singapore and South Korea, fell below the average in terms of protection.

On average, 31 per cent of teenagers and young adults do not discuss contraception before their first time. The lack awareness and the knowledge to protect themselves.

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

In Thailand, a survey of 2,600 university students showed most sexual encounters resulted from romantic relationships and an inability to deny a partner's wishes.

Psychiatrist Dr Sukamol Vipaveepalakul pointed out that a girl's inability to say no was due to a lack of self-confidence and a fear they'll lose their guys if they say no to them.

"And once the first instance of sexual intercourse takes place, it tends to continue, eventually leading to premature pregnancies," he said.

Nanta also stressed the importance of educators and parents in developing their teenagers' social immunity: "The parents should develop a relationship in which their children feel comfortable talking to them. Tteachers should be trained to educate students."

TNS surveyed more than 3,000 teens and young adults aged 15-24 in 15 countries in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. It found most European youths had their first sexual intercourse at age 16, while those in North America and the Asia-Pacific had theirs at age 17. Twenty per cent of those surveyed have sex with new partners without using contraception.

-- The Nation 2009/09/26

[harrry]

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

[dre1247]

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Harry, what are you trying to say??

[harrry]

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Harry, what are you trying to say??

For statements like this to be made by people representing an organization concerning contraception tje statement "Just say No" is indicative of the kind of contraceptive information being given ( or rather not given) in schools and univesities in Thailand.

[trogers]

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Harry, what are you trying to say??

For statements like this to be made by people representing an organization concerning contraception tje statement "Just say No" is indicative of the kind of contraceptive information being given ( or rather not given) in schools and univesities in Thailand.

And if these women cannot learn to say no...there is always the chastity belt...

[PeaceBlondie]

The Nation

Published on September 26, 2009

"...Teachers should be trained to educate students."

Parents, teach your children.

[mca]

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

I think Thai kids will have a struggle with this seeing the behavior of the role models they encounter every day.

[Mario2008]

Well, a lot of parents seem to think taht their child doesn't have sex and don't approve about birthcontrol edcation. I tried it once and the kids were running out of the class room. My priciple told me afterwards that in the past he recieved complaints from parents that the school wanted to give information about birth control methods.

Many parents won't educate their children as a result I see every year a few students dropping out of school because they are pregnant. I think teaching about contraceptives should be part of the school curriculum.

[webfact]

I trust birthcontrol education and sex education are still a no no in many Thai schools and society.

Sex doesn't exist!

[Mosha]

A few years back my wife's ex brother in law was the Kamnam. He took me to a talk a young lady in her teens was giving. It was about Aids/HIV and she was HIV positive. There was two Americans there who were with the peace corps. We got talking about what we were doing in Ranong. So they said they were helping with the Aids prevention campaign. I said to them "Well in my opinion this event is just BS." They looked a bit taken aback and asked why. "I don't see many here at risk, do you?" I said, her audience were all in their 70's. I continued, "She should be talking to the kids who are at risk, she should be going around the schools." For some reason they looked uncomfortable with that idea.

[mca]

Well, a lot of parents seem to think that their child doesn't have sex and don't approve about birth control education.

My niece is a freshy at Chula and a real looker. Thai/Burmese mix. Her father died a couple of years ago and he made me promise that me and my wife would take care of his kids(in a moral and responsibility sense).

I've given her a talk about contraception (with my wife's support) and responsibilities behind the rest of the families back. My niece idolizes me and my wife because we're more in tune with how her generation think. She's got a male "friend" who she sees when she comes home but her mother is a bit too conservative Thai to think that when he sees her there could possibly be any funny stuff going on. As far as she's concerned they're just going out for a Swensen's together.

I'd rather me do what I did than my niece come home one day with a bun in the oven because her mother thinks "She's a good girl".

And to be perfectly frank if I was a young Thai bloke of 18 I wouldn't be content with just holding hands with my niece and to be crude I'd want to be eating a bit more than Swensen's.

[BSJ]

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Obviously there are those in LOS that go by the old adage "If they are old enough to bleed, they are old enough to breed" irrespective of the consequences regarding the girl's in question. But it's a trend we are seeing in the West as well.

[hammered]

Was recently talking to a group of 20-30 year old western men who didnt happen to be sex tourists. They pretty much said they hardly ever used condoms back home. Apparently the fear of aids has receded among many with the use of a condom now seen as unneccasry inconvenience even in some western quarters.

[Scott]

Hammered how big wss the group who weren't sex tourists and how did you find them?

[geriatrickid]

The intent of the learning to say No statement was meant that women should not be hesitant to say No to sex and No to unprotected sex. It wasn't intended as a moral statement or anything like that. All that the Professor was trying to emphasize is that women are not obliged to "put out" or accept unsafe sex.

What this report reinforces is the horrible consequences of the abandonment of the HIV prevention programs of the early 90's. The education and emphasis upon condoms acted to slash the rate of STIs and unwanted pregnancies at the same time it helped prevent HIV.

I had a good chuckle at Mosha."I don't see many here at risk, do you?" I said, her audience were all in their 70's. I continued, "She should be talking to the kids who are at risk, she should be going around the schools." I get the point and it's valid, but I'm laughing because there have been several STI epidemics reported in US retirement communities. With the introduction of cialis and viagra, alot of those sedate elderly people became frisky panthers and cougars. Old people forget that they can get STIs just as easily as a teenager. Unlike younger patients, older patients are more likely to delay seeking help, either because they do not recognize or feel the symptoms or because of embarrassment.

In respect to the old ladies at the info session, bear in mind that some of those grannies might be taking care of the kids . If granny knows about the subject, she just might tell the kids.

[Mosha]

So that's what Len Phai means

[hammered]

Hammered how big wss the group who weren't sex tourists and how did you find them?

Work related group, indirectly for me, and it was a group of 20.

[Thai at Heart]

On the basis that I heard from a teacher at a local international school (where my kids attend) that four girls in their mattayom classes got pregnant last year, it would appear that the message is definitely not getting across.

I find it amazing that they get their knickers in a twist about the facade of Thainess in school when in reality, they are missing the point that they are teaching a heaving mass of irresponsibile walking hormones that doesn't give a dam_n about their consequences. All whilst telling the parents that the kids are exhibiting excellent morals and decision making capabilities.

Finally, after years of begging from the foreign teachers, sex education, western style is in the curriculum.

[dumball]

"...Teachers should be trained to educate students."Parents, teach your children.

I have witnessed many parents teaching their children the responsibilities of life , with a stick in hand or a whack around the ear , how do you expect people who appear to have no respect for their own offspring to teach them anything of practical use .

[oevna]

Psychiatrist Dr Sukamol Vipaveepalakul pointed out that a girl's inability to say no was due to a lack of self-confidence and a fear they'll lose their guys if they say no to them.

"And once the first instance of sexual intercourse takes place, it tends to continue, eventually leading to premature pregnancies," he said.

...eventually leading to premature pregnancies, which then leads to losing their guy. Sort of a contradiction, don't you think?

[oevna]

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Harry, what are you trying to say??

I think the point is that recommending abstinance is not an effective way of preventing premature pregnancies (or STDs, for that matter). Kids are going to keep having sex, whether their parents forbid it or not. So it's better to educate them about the consequences, and give them tools to protect themselves.

In my opinion, it will be hard to get Thai teenagers to start using condoms. I could be wrong though.

[patklang]

I have been very shocked to here that many male tourists coming to Pattaya/bk/Phuket etc,go bareback and dont wrap it.Now that is pure madness and surely will increase stds in the sex industry.

[oevna]

I have been very shocked to here that many male tourists coming to Pattaya/bk/Phuket etc,go bareback and dont wrap it.Now that is pure madness and surely will increase stds in the sex industry.

Not to worry... they have the cure for AIDS now. Oops, I mean the vaccine. And it only provides a 30% reduced chance of contracting HIV. And it won't help them if they've already got it.

[LaoPo]

I have been very shocked to here that many male tourists coming to Pattaya/bk/Phuket etc,go bareback and dont wrap it.Now that is pure madness and surely will increase stds in the sex industry.

Yep....

"Thailand Population: 65,905,410 (more or less similar to France's and Iran's population, 64,0M and 66,4M respectively)

! note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)"

Thailand: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: Thailand has a worrying 1,40%* of the population living with HIV/AIDS versus France's 0,40% (or 140,000) and Iran's 0,20% or 86,000 HIV/AIDS infected...(2007 estimates).

610,000 (2007 est.) living with HIV/AIDS

country comparison to the world: 18 (rank in the world with people having HIV/AIDS):

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th...&rank=18#th

All info from: CIA - The World Factbook:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/th...ok/geos/th.html

* HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.

LaoPo

Edited September 26, 2009 by LaoPo

[slapout]

oevna's last sentence is so true. The teenage years seem to be characterized by impatience for everything in the path to satisfaction/desire. The availability of the morning after pill and a good dose of antibiotics may work more successfully for a co7uple of undesirable consequences of the dastardly deed.

[caf]

The Nation

Published on September 26, 2009

"...Teachers should be trained to educate students."

Parents, teach your children.

I agree ( for the West) but that is not how Thai parents see it. For them teachers have an important role. "in loco parentis" in the extreme.

[dkstoney]

What's the point if the condom just keeps falling off? Maybe someone could make a fortune importing finger cots.

[swifty5x5]

I think the point is that recommending abstinance is not an effective way of preventing premature pregnancies (or STDs, for that matter). Kids are going to keep having sex, whether their parents forbid it or not. So it's better to educate them about the consequences, and give them tools to protect themselves.

In my opinion, it will be hard to get Thai teenagers to start using condoms. I could be wrong though.

They must give condoms out free at school along with the education.