Factors Influencing Sexual Behaviors among Thai Adolescents
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This cross-sectional analysis examines the factors influencing sexual behaviors, no-sex experience, safe sexual behaviors and unsafe sexual behaviors among adolescents, and the degree of sexual risk behaviors among sexually experienced adolescents by using web-based questionnaires. The participants were 3,192 Thai adolescents ages 15-19 and studying at secondary and vocational schools. Data were analyzed by using multinomial logistic regression analysis and multilevel regression analysis. Among all participants, 769 adolescents reported having had sexual experience defined as sexual intercourse (prevalence=24.09). Unsafe sexual behaviors escalated with age, enrollment in vocational school, greater perceived peer approval and sexual double standards. Unsafe sexual behaviors decreased with male gender, living with both parents having a higher sexual risk behavioral attitude and sexual message communication. The results revealed that school type was the greatest predictor influencing sexual risk behaviors followed by peer approval and sexual behaviors, type of family structure, living arrangements, sex, age, sexual risk behavioral attitude, sexual double standards and sexual message communication. In today’s society, external environmental factors have greater influence on sexual risk behaviors, especially school environment. And each adolescent has different contexts related to sexual behaviors. Hence, we should consider differences in individual, family and school contexts when developing an effective health system that promotes sexual health and sexual risk behavior prevention among adolescents, one that will lead to decreased negative outcomes from sexual behaviors among adolescents.
Article Details
References
Abebe, M., Tsion, A. & Netsanet, F. (2013). Living with parents and risky sexual behaviors among preparatory school students. African Health Sciences, 13(2), 59-68. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v13i2.42
Ajuwon, A. J., Olaleye, A., Faromoju, B. & Ladipo, O. (2006). Sexual behavior and experience of sexual coercion among secondary school students in three states in North Eastern Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 6, 1-10. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-6-310
Asrat, A. (2014). Assessment of sexual risk behaviors of in-school youth: Effect of living arrangement of students. American Journal of Health Research, 2(2), 78-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20140202.18
Augsornrat, S., Perngmark, P. & Jansawang, W. (2009). Family structure, family functions and sexual risk behaviors among female junior high-school students, Muang district Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Journal of Health Science, 18(5), 736-744.
Austin, C. A. (2011). The sexual double standard: Cultural myth or influential script in relation to the sexual assertiveness of men and women in two generational cohorts. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, Carleton University at Canada.
Berge, J. M., Wall, M., Larson, N., Loth, K. A. & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2013). Family functioning: associations with weight status, eating behaviors, and physical activity in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(2), 351-357.
Boonmongkon, P. & Thaweesit, S. (2008) Sexuality education in Thailand: How far do we need to go? Retrieved from http://www.teenpath.net/data/r-research/00010/tpfile/00001.pdf
Bureau of Epidemiology. (2015). Surveillance reports of behaviors related to HIV infection among Thai student. Nonthaburi, Thailand: Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control Ministry of Public Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016a). Sexual risk behavior guidelines & resources. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/sexualbehaviors/strategies.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016b). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63, (SS-4).
Chaikoolvatana, C., Praditsathaporn, C. & Kamkhieo, W. (2013). Predictors of sexual risk behavior among adolescents in Phayao province. Journal of Nursing and Education, 6, 105-115.
Chirawatkul, S., Kumdee, B., Jongudomkarn, D. & Kotanara, I. (2012). Situation of teenage pregnancy: Perception among adolescent in 7 provinces of Thailand. Journal of Health Science, 21, 865-877.
Collins, R. L. (2011). Content analysis of gender roles in media: Where are we now and where should we go? Sex Roles, 64, 290-298. doi: 10.1007/s11199-010-9929-5
Fazio, R. H. & Roskos-Ewoldsen, D. R. (2005). Acting as we feel: When and how attitudes guide behavior. In T. C. Brock & M. C. Green (Eds.), Persuasion: Psychological insights and perspectives, 41-62. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fentahun, N., Assefa, T., Alemseged, F. & Ambaw, F. (2012). Parents’ perception, students’ and teachers’ attitude towards school sex education. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 22(2), 99-106.
Fongkaew, W., Cupp, P. K., Miller, B., Atwood, K., Chamratrithirong, A., Rhucharoenpornpanich, O.,… Byrnes, H. (2012). Do Thai parents really know about sexual risk taking of their children: A qualitative study in Bangkok. Nursing & Health Science, 14(3), 391-397.
doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2012.00703.x
Fongkaew, W., Fongkaew, K. & Suchaxaya, P. (2011). Adolescent peer leader development in HIV prevention using youth-adult partnership with schools approach. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS care, 18(2), 60-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2007.01.005
Goldman, J. D. (2011). An exploration in health education of an integrated theoretical basis for sexuality education pedagogies for young people. Health Education Research, 26(3), 526-541. DOI: 10.1093/her/cyq084
Im, Y. L. & Park, K. M. (2014). Effects of sexuality education coaching program on sex-related knowledge and attitude among elementary school students. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 44(1), 31-40. doi: 10.4040/jkan.2014.44.1.31
Ingkathawornwong, T., Kritcharoen, S., Pol-in, K., & Charoonsak, Y. (2007). Risk behaviour from sexual activity in female adolescents at vocational school. Songklanagarind Medical Journal, 25(6), 511-520.
Kim, J. L. & Ward, L. M. (2007). Silence speaks volumes: Parental sexual communication among Asian American emerging adult. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(1), 3-31. doi: 10.1177/0743558406294916
Mchunu, G., Peltzer, K., Tutshana, B. & Seutlwadi. (2012). Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in South African youth. African Health Science, 12(4), 426-434. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v12i4.5
McNeely, C. & Blanchard, J. (2009). The teen years explained: A guide to healthy adolescent development. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Morrison, L. (2004). Traditional in transition: Young people risk for HIV in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Qualitative Health Research, 14(3), 328-344. doi: 10.1177/1049732303261624
Muehlenhard, C. L. & Quackenbush, D. M. (2011). The sexual double standard scale. In T. D. Fisher, C. M. Davis, W. L. Yarber, R. Bauserman, G. E. Schreer & S. L. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures,199-200. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
Mulama, J. (2006). Education-Kenya: Too much too soon? Nairobi: Inter Press Service.
National AIDS for Prevention and Alleviation Committee. (2010). UNGASS country progress report. January 2008-Decenber 2009. Bangkok: UNAID.
Phunkham, Y., Promprapat, P., Paisanautphong, K. & Samukkeekarom, R. (2010). The study of sexual health promotion and prevention and youth health problem. Nontaburi: Bureau of
reproductive health, Department of health, Ministry of Public Health.
Pusuwun, S., Wongyai. K. & Leekuan, P. (2013). Behavior on perceived self-efficacy and sexual risk behavior among female adolescent. Nursing Journal, 40(4), 68-79.
Ramiro, L. & Matos, M. G. (2008). Perceptions of Portuguese teachers about sex education. Rev Saúde Pública, 42(4), 1-12.
Rasamimari, A., Dancy, B., Talashek, M. & Park, C. G. (2007). Predictors of sexual behaviors among Thai young adults. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 18(6), 13-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2007.08.001
Shtarkshall, R. A., Santelli, J. S. & Hirsch, J. S. (2007). Sex education and sexual socialization: Roles for educators and parents. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 39(2), 1-10. doi: 10.1363/3911607
Srisuriyawet, R. (2006). Psychosocial and gender based determinants for sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in school. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation), Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University.
Tanasugarn, C., Kengkarnpanich, M. & Kaeodumkoeng, K. (2012). Evaluation of comprehensive sex education program in high schools at the compulsory education level. Salaya, Thailand: Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University.
The United Nations Population Fund Thailand (UNFPA). (2013). Minutes of the selected stakeholder consultation on the issue of adolescent pregnancy in Thailand. Paper presented at the Adolescent pregnancy Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.
Tietjen-Smith, T., Balkin, R. & Kimbrough, S. (2014). Knowledge and teaching confidence of educators about sexual health topics. National Forum of Teacher Education Journal, 24(3), 1-9.
Trinh, S., Ward, L. M., Day, K., Thomas, K. & Levin, D. (2013). Contributions of divergent parent and peer sexual messages to Asian American college students’ sexual behaviors. The Journal of Sex Research, 51, 208-220. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2012.721099
VanLandingham, M. & Trujillo, L. (2012). Recent changes in heterosexual attitudes, norms and behaviors among unmarried Thai men: A qualitative analysis. International Family Planning Perspectives, 28, 6-15. doi: 10.2307/3088270
Vivancos, R., Abubakar, I., Phillips-Howard, P. & Hunter, P. R. (2012). School-based sex education is associated with reduced risky sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections in young adults. Public Health, 127(1), 53-57. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.09.016
Vuttanont, U., Greenhalgh, T., Griffin, M. & Boynton, P. (2006). Smart boys and sweet girls and sex education needs in Thai teenager: A mixed method study. The Lancet, 368(9552), 2068-2080. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(06)69836-x