Competitive Sexual Risk-taking Behaviors Among Adolescents in Northern Thailand

Authors

  • Saowaluck Settheekul RN, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Warunee Fongkaew RN, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Nongkran Viseskul PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Waraporn Boonchieng PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Joachim G. Voss PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN. Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, USA

Keywords:

Adolescents, Community-based participatory research, Prevention, Qualitative Research, Sexual risk behaviors, Sexually transmitted diseases, Thailand

Abstract

                  This paper reports the qualitative first phase of a community-based participatory research study that explored the perceptions of behaviors and factors related to sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in northern Thailand. Adolescent community and academic researchers conducted focus group discussions with 94 adolescents aged 10-19 years old, and in-depth interviews with five females who had been pregnant in adolescence and one male who had fathered an adolescent pregnancy. Data was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data.

                  Two themes emerged about the adolescents: 1) social situations to rationalize sexual behaviors, which comprised peer imitation regarding sexual intercourse, online sexual relationships, drinking alcohol before having sex, living with a boyfriend/girlfriend without marriage, and having multiple partners, and 2) factors related to sexual risk behaviors, including adolescent norms regarding sexual risk, misinformation regarding sexual risk prevention, uninvolved parenting style, lack of teaching skills to convey sex education, potential risk environment in the community, and community norms regarding males’ sexual behavior. Results indicated that correct and effective sexually transmitted infection prevention methods, gender equality, and motivation for condom use are important to prevent adolescent sexual risk behaviors. In addition, community-based interventions are needed to focus on different parenting skills, sex education teaching skills, and addressing community norms in order to prevent sexual risk behaviors among Thai adolescents.

References

1. Steinberg L. Risk taking in adolescence new perspectives from brain and behavioral science. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2007; 16(2): 55-9.

2. World Health Organization. Global estimates shed light on toll of sexually transmitted infections. 2015 [cited 2018 Feb 21]. Available from: http://www.who.int/ reproductivehealth/news/stis-estimates-2015/en/

3. World Health Organization. Adolescent pregnancy. 2018 [cited 2018 Feb 15]. Available from: http://www.who. int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs364/en/

4. Areechokchai D. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) in teenage, Thailand, 2010-2017. Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report, Thailand. 2015; 46(5): 65-7 [in Thai].

5. Bureau of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health. Statistics on adolescent birth, Thailand 2013. 2014 [cited 2016 Nov 15]. Available from: http://rh.anamai.moph.go.th/ewt_dl_link. php?nid=34

6. Lloyd CB, Mensch BS. Marriage and childbirth as factors in dropping out from school: An analysis of DHS data from sub-Saharan Africa. Popul Stud. 2008; 62(1): 1-13.

7. World Health Organization. The sexual and reproductive health of younger adolescents: Research issues in developing countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.

8. Prakash R, Singh A, Pathak PK, Parasuraman S. Early marriage, poor reproductive health status of mother and child well-being in India. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2011; 37(3): 136-45.

9. World Health Organization. Strengthening the adolescent component of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health programmes: A training course for public health managers. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.

10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2016; 65(6): 1-180.

11. Aurpibul L, Tangmunkongvorakul A, Musumari PM, Srithanaviboonchai K, Tarnkehard S. Patterns of sexual behavior in lowland Thai youth and ethnic minorities attending high school in rural Chiang Mai, Thailand. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(12): e0165866.

12. Chamratrithirong A, Kaiser P. The dynamics of condom use with regular and casual partners: Analysis of the 2006 National Sexual Behavior Survey of Thailand. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(7): e42009.

13. Oluwole DA, Adeyemi MA, Oyebiyi DA. Predictive influence of factors predisposing secondary school adolescents dropouts to sexual risk behaviour in Ogun State. Ife Psychologia. 2013; 21(1): 361-86.

14. Atwood KA, Zimmerman R, Cupp PK, Fongkaew W, Miller BA, Byrnes HF, et al. Correlates of precoital behaviors, intentions, and sexual initiation among Thai adolescents. J Early Adolescence. 2012; 32(3): 364-86.

15. Townsend JM, Wasserman TH. Sexual hookups among college students: Sex differences in emotional reactions. Arch Sex Behav. 2011; 40(6): 1173-81.

16. Harris AL, Sutherland MA, Hutchinson MK. Parental influences of sexual risk among urban African American adolescent males. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2013; 45(2): 141-50.

17. Rhucharoenpornpanich O, Chamratrithirong A, Fongkaew W, Rosati MJ, Miller BA, Cupp PK. Parenting and adolescent problem behaviors: A comparative study of sons and daughters in Thailand. J Med Assoc Thai. 2010; 93(3): 293-300.

18. Bingenheimer JB, Asante E, Ahiadeke C. Peer influences on sexual activity among adolescents in Ghana. Stud Fam Plann. 2015; 46(1): 1-19.

19. Mmari KN, Kaggwa E, Wagman J, Gray R, Wawer M, Nalugoda F. Risk and protective correlates of young women’s first sexual experiences in Rakai, Uganda. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2013; 39(3): 153-62.

20. Lindberg LD, Orr M. Neighborhood-level influences on young men’s sexual and reproductive health behaviors. Am J Public Health. 2011; 101(2): 271-4.

21. Chinn PL. Critical theory and emancipatory knowing. In Butts JB, Rich KL. Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. 2nd ed. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2015, pp. 139-158.

22. Israel BA, Eng E, Schulz AJ, Parker EA. Methods for community-based participatory research for health. San Francisco: Wiley; 2012.

23. Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic inquiry. London: SAGE; 1985.

24. Piumwattanasup A, Chantaluk S. Factors relating to sexual behaviors of early adolescents: Case of adolescents in Pattaya City’s school, Chon Buri Province, 2007. Office of Disease Prevention and Control 3 Chonburi Journal. 2009; 2(2): 56-68 [in Thai].

25. Ali MM, Dwyer DS. Estimating peer effects in sexual behavior among adolescents. J Adolesc. 2011; 34(1): 183-90.

26. Hong Y, Li X, Mao R, Stanton B. Internet use among Chinese college students: Implications for sex education and HIV prevention. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2007; 10(2): 161-9.

27. Aeamsamarng P, Srisuriyawet R, Homsin P. Risk factors of unintended repeat pregnancy among adolescents. The Public Health Journal of Burapha University. 2013; 8(1): 55-66 [in Thai].

28. Apakupakul N. Sexual relation and condom use in teenagers and young adults at teens clubs: A case study in Bangkok. Songklaagarind Medical Journal. 2006; 24(6): 475-82 [in Thai].

29. Morrison-Beedy D, Grove L, Ji M, Baker E. Understanding the “why” for high-risk behavior: Adolescent girls’ motivations for sex. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2017; 28(6): 877-87.

30. Muangjai T. Predictability of self-control, knowledge in sex education and family communication concerning opposite sex friends on sexual risk behaviors of female adolescent students [master’s thesis]. [Chiang Mai (Thailand)]: Chiang Mai University; 2012. 104 p. Thai.

31. Bozicevic I, Stulhofer A, Ajdukovic D, Kufrin K. Patterns of sexual behaviour and reported symptoms of STI/RTIs among young people in Croatia--implications for interventions’ planning. Coll Antropol. 2006; suppl 2: 63-70.

32. Okhakhume AS. Influence of self-esteem, parenting style and parental monitoring on sexual risk behaviour of adolescents in Ibadan. Gender & Behaviour. 2014; 12(2): 6341-53.

33. Timmerman G. Teaching skills and personal characteristics of sex education teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education. 2009; 25(3): 500-6.

34. Sridawruang C, Crozier K, Pfeil M. Attitudes of adolescents and parents towards premarital sex in rural Thailand: A qualitative exploration. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2010; 1(4): 181-7.

Downloads

Published

2018-12-19

How to Cite

1.
Settheekul S, Fongkaew W, Viseskul N, Boonchieng W, Voss JG. Competitive Sexual Risk-taking Behaviors Among Adolescents in Northern Thailand. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2018 Dec. 19 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];23(1):61-73. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/117208

Issue

Section

Original paper