Prevalence of HIV infection and related risk factors among young Thai men between 2010 and 2011

Abstract

Introduction Understanding the current epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Thailand will facilitate more effective national HIV prevention programs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection among young Thai men. Methods A total survey was conducted of Royal Thai Army new conscripts, participating in the national HIV surveillance in November 2010 and May 2011. Behavioral risk factors for HIV infection were determined using a standardized survey questionnaire in the total study population and men who have sex with men (MSM) subgroup. Results A total of 301 (0.5%) HIV infected young Thai men were identified from the total study population (63,667). Independent risk factors associated with HIV infection among the total study population included being single (adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.6, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.1–2.2), having no formal education (AOR 6.5, 95% CI 2.3–18.4) or a bachelor’s degree (AOR 1. 8, 95% CI 1.0–3.0), engaging in bisexual (AOR 3.7, 95% CI 2.4–5. 6) or exclusively homosexual activity (AOR 14.4, 95% CI 10.4–19.8), having a history of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6–3.3) and having sex in exchange for gifts/money (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1. 5–2.8). A total of 4,594 (7.9%) MSM were identified, of which 121 (2.6%) were HIV infected. The prevalence of HIV infection among MSM in urban (2.8%) and rural (2.4%) areas were relatively comparable ( p -value = 0.44). Of the identified MSM, 82.5% reported having sexual desire with females only. Risk factors associated with HIV infection in the MSM subgroup included living in the western region (AOR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2–10.4), having a bachelor’s degree (AOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–5.7), having a history of exclusive receptive (AOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6–7.7) or versatile anal sex (AOR 4.7, 95% CI 3.0–7.5) and history of having sex in exchange for gifts/money (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5–3.5). Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection among young Thai men has continued to be below 0.5% in 2010 and 2011. High risk sexual activity, including MSM, played a major role in the HIV epidemic among this population. Effective HIV prevention programs should cover MSM who have heterosexual desire as well as having sex in exchange for gifts/money and be implemented in both urban and rural areas.

Rising prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk factors among young Thai Men in 2018

“…Our data exhibited patterns of sexual behavior and risk factors for HIV infection among young Thai men from army training units in selected five provinces in November 2018. Because the conscription process using a lottery system was conducted at the district level of the conscripts’ home province, our study population could to some extent represent young Thai men from both rural and urban areas 3 , 7 . We determined that the prevalence of HIV infection among the newly inducted army conscripts from the training units in selected provinces in 2018 was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7–1.3%), which was comparable to the national HIV prevalence among those participating in the surveillance program for HIV among military conscripts indicating a HIV prevalence of 0.9% (336 of 38,225) (95%CI: 0.8–1.0%) during the same period.…”

“…The study population was enrolled as previously described 2 , 7 . The young Thai men aged 21 years, selected by a lottery system, rendered military service to the RTA.…”

“…The conscription was conducted annually in April, at the district level of their home province. A small subset of men, found incapable of rendering military service, were excluded including those with severe sickness, transgender women and individuals who participated in alternative military service including the Thai Reserve Officer Training Corps Student program 7 . The exemption process does not exclude young men with asymptomatic HIV or exclude individuals based on their sexual orientation or drug use.…”

“…All new RTA conscripts were voluntarily invited to participate in the national HIV surveillance program. This includes serological testing for HIV and a short demographics questionnaire that does not include any behavioral risk factor questions 3 , 7 .…”

“…Anonymity was ensured by using unique codes that could only be decoded by the respective data management personnel of the project. The questionnaires were used to determine risk factors to HIV infection that had been developed from related risk factors studies among young Thai men 7 . Men having sex with men status was defined as the lifetime sexual activity of man having sex with another man and not as the identity expressed by the person.…”