Youth Urged To Use Condoms As Valentine's Day Nears: Bangkok

[webfact]

Youth urged to use condoms as Valentine's Day nears

The Nation

One third of sexually active youths in the capital have swapped partners at least once, a recent survey showed.

BANGKOK: -- Conducted last month, the survey covered 1,014 respondents aged between 12 and 24 in Bangkok. Of them, 31 per cent have been sexually active. The study also showed that some Thai boys have had their first sexual experience at the age of 12, while the youngest age for girls was 13.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said yesterday that that only 53.2 per cent of the youth used condoms.

The survey was conducted through the collaboration of the Public Health Ministry and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.

Paijit said that if youngsters continued to have unsafe sex, more people would contract the Aids virus. It is estimated that about 600,000 people have been living with Aids in Thailand now.

Disease Control Department directorgeneral Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his department would hold a campaign on Valentine's Day at MBK Centre to create a positive image for condom buyers/users.

"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [sTD]," he said.

The department has received funds to hand out 60 million condoms across the country for the purpose of preventing STDs.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Assumption University showed that many Bangkok residents were ready to splurge for Valentine's Day. Up to 722 people aged between 18 and 50 filled in questionnaires on the subject between February 5 and 8.

Male respondents said they were planning to spend an average of Bt2,171, while female respondents planned to shell out Bt1,750 for the season of love. Their planned activities include special meals, movies and vacations.

The survey showed that as much as Bt3.723 billion will be spent on Valentine's Day, with up to Bt1.89 billion of it on gifts alone, such as flowers, clothes and accessories, chocolates, cakes and ornaments.

-- The Nation 2012-02-10

[Misterwhisper]

What is it with this obsession of teenagers to have sex on Valentine's Day??? Can't they have sex on any other day of the year, for goodness sake!?

[DocN]

For the next 4 days - until Valentine's Day- will we read this crap everyday?

Get a job, guys! Please! Or at least a hobby!

[Ijustwannateach]

The hilarious thing is that it's not the youth who are sex-obsessed, it's the blue rinse conservative set. But thank goodness that for once at least the focus is also on SAFEr sex.

[Pib]

Disease Control Department directorgeneral Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his department would hold a campaign on Valentine's Day at MBK Centre to create a positive image for condom buyers/users.

"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [sTD]," he said.

Hopefully he Disease Control Department aggressively works to prevent the spread of STDs the other 364 days in a year.

[sparebox2]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

[Morgo]

Another paper stated that condom use is on the rise.

[jaltsc]

In yesterday's article they said they were going to prevent youths from having sex on Valentine's Day (Well, after 10 P.M.). Now they are encouraging them to use condoms. Since they will be home and alone... Is this a new health policy promoting clean hands?

Edited February 10, 2012 by jaltsc

[visions]

What is it with this obsession of teenagers to have sex on Valentine's Day??? Can't they have sex on any other day of the year, for goodness sake!?

They do. It is only that the survey singled out VD

[CHANGOVER]

'Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Assumption University

showed that many Bangkok residents were ready to

splurge for Valentine's Day.'

Well let's hope they do it in a condom!

[anterian]

Why should Buddhists celebrate Valentine's day anyway? I thought Loi Krathong was the Thai equivalent.

[ScubaBuddha]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

Religious, moral superiority crap proven to be wrong time and again.

[h90]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

They have the license to have sex given by mother nature already.

[benbear]

Um, this story is before the story about teenagers have to be at home before 10 pm, so to conclude

Use a condom before 10 pm

Edited February 10, 2012 by benbear

[Lifer]

About time they came to their senses and started recommending condoms instead of thinking they can stop the young people from having sex. Too bad its not done ALL the time instead of Valentines Day and occasional times when someone wants attention for improving social programs.

[DocN]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

It sends the only message that is halfway sane in this moronic set up.

They will have sex anyways- permission granted or not!

They are teenagers and that is what teenagers do.

At least protect yourselves from unwanted pregnancies or (more or less) fatal diseases or STD's.

[warfie]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

The message I get is this:

"Kids, if you feel you must have consensual sex, take appropriate precautions. But please be off the streets before the drunk, lonely, losers get out of the bars."

The apparent mixed message is not so bad, IMHO.

[catmac]

The message I get is this:

"Kids, if you feel you must have consensual sex, take appropriate precautions. But please be off the streets before the drunk, lonely, losers get out of the bars."

The apparent mixed message is not so bad, IMHO.

That's no way to refer to us TV'ers, Warfie!

Seriously, though, I think you've got it about right. So sad, all these shrivelled-up old whiners frothing at the mouth at the thought of youngsters having sex!

[warfie]

The message I get is this:

"Kids, if you feel you must have consensual sex, take appropriate precautions. But please be off the streets before the drunk, lonely, losers get out of the bars."

The apparent mixed message is not so bad, IMHO.

That's no way to refer to us TV'ers, Warfie!

Seriously, though, I think you've got it about right. So sad, all these shrivelled-up old whiners frothing at the mouth at the thought of youngsters having sex!

hehehe

No insult intended... well... much, anyway...

[orpheus454]

Disease Control Department directorgeneral Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan said his department would hold a campaign on Valentine's Day at MBK Centre to create a positive image for condom buyers/users.

"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [sTD]," he said.

Hopefully he Disease Control Department aggressively works to prevent the spread of STDs the other 364 days in a year.

There's another 365 this year...

[Ricardo]

'Say It With Flowers Condoms !'

[tombkk]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

They don't ask for a licence. Assuming they don't have sex and thus being silent about the dangers, is much more dangerous than addressing the issue.

I don't know about now, but a few decades ago (before AIDS), unwanted pregnancies, including teenage pregnancies, were much more common in Catholic parts of Germany where the issue was not addressed, than in more open parts of Germany. Alas, this was a long time ago and I cannot recall the source.

My point: The same activities that cause pregnancies also transmit venereal diseases, and it is better to educate than to try to close your eyes and think your teenage kids don't do "it". They do. It's your responsibility as a parent to educate your kids and teach them to use condoms, if they do engage in sex.

[KKK]

It is estimated that about 600,000 people

Don't they know? They can only estimate!

[KKK]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

They don't ask for a licence. Assuming they don't have sex and thus being silent about the dangers, is much more dangerous than addressing the issue.

My point: The same activities that cause pregnancies also transmit venereal diseases, and it is better to educate than to try to close your eyes and think your teenage kids don't do "it". They do. It's your responsibility as a parent to educate your kids and teach them to use condoms, if they do engage in sex.

Agree EDUCATION is the key..but we all know that Thailand does not do very well on that score.....

[tombkk]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

They don't ask for a licence. Assuming they don't have sex and thus being silent about the dangers, is much more dangerous than addressing the issue.

My point: The same activities that cause pregnancies also transmit venereal diseases, and it is better to educate than to try to close your eyes and think your teenage kids don't do "it". They do. It's your responsibility as a parent to educate your kids and teach them to use condoms, if they do engage in sex.

Agree EDUCATION is the key..but we all know that Thailand does not do very well on that score.....

Let's campaign for that then. It's always better to work on the cause of a problem rather than the symptom.

In the meantime, let's face reality: The kids do have sex, so at least tell them what the dangers are and how they can protect themselves. Trying to ignore that and hoping for the best will not benefit them in any way.

[Bagwan]

Another paper stated that condom use is on the rise.

A condom isn't of much use if you are not on the rise - or have already risen.

[Chris Lawrence]

Are they the same respondents that were asked how Yingluck is performing?

The best slogan for condoms was a poster with condom man saying "If its not on its not on". They need to think past Valentines Day.

[sirchai]

"Our campaign will be held to prevent the spread of sexuallytransmittable diseases [sTD]," he said.

"​ And our crappy tablet PCs from China will be disease free until delivered to the schools". Condoms will be used to keep them working free of any diseases, which will be a big step backwards for Thailand's educational system.

[easton]

Sending the wrong message.

Promote usage to use condom mean giving them a license to have sex.

Religious, moral superiority crap proven to be wrong time and again.

Amen!

[Ijustwannateach]

You can't control what children/teenagers will do- anyone who thinks so has been wrong from the beginning of time. Unfortunately many parents and teachers think this way.

What you CAN do is try to help them understand how to keep from hurting themselves. That works because it shows you really care about them, and there's a chance they'll listen to you.

What you can ALSO do, once they know you care about them, is give them your advice. If they really know you are on board for really knowing who they are and helping them on that basis, they might also listen.