6-11-2023 (BANGKOK) Alarming statistics revealing an increase in HIV-positive cases among Thai teenagers have prompted a warning about the risks associated with “safe sex” practices. Dr. Achara Nithiaphinyasakul, the acting director-general of the Department of Health, announced on Monday that the department is gearing up to raise awareness of safe sexual practices among the younger generation.
Dr. Ekachai Piensriwatchara, the deputy director-general of the department, emphasized the importance of promoting gender respect and conscientiousness to prevent non-consensual sexual activity. Additionally, he highlighted the significance of utilizing high-efficiency birth control methods, especially when combined with condoms, as a means to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The cautionary message comes on the heels of a recent report from the Department of Disease Control (DDC) that shed light on Thailand’s HIV situation. According to the report, there were 9,230 new cases of HIV detected in the country in 2022, with the majority of those cases occurring among individuals aged 15 to 24. Shockingly, only 22.4% of these HIV-positive cases were receiving hospital treatment.
The report also noted 14,534 cases of syphilis and gonorrhea in the same year, with the study revealing that only 80% of couples used condoms during sexual intercourse.
Given that using condoms can effectively prevent both unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the government is encouraging people to obtain them free of charge at any health service unit. Moreover, as part of the National Health Security Service, individuals can avail themselves of free HIV tests through the PaoTang mobile application, as announced by the DDC.
