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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Tooru Nemoto, PhD, Fumihiko Yokota, MPH, and Mariko Iwamoto, MA. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94105, (415) 597-9391, TNemoto@psg.ucsf.edu
Objectives: To investigate HIV-related drug use and sexual behaviors among Japanese tourists in the Khaosan road area in Bangkok, Thailand, where a large number of foreign tourists, particularly youths, stay in inexpensive guesthouses. Methods: Based on the stratified sampling methods, a total of 150 Japanese tourists (58% males, average age=24.2 years, SD=4.5) were recruited for the study. The participants had self-administered a structured survey questionnaire, anonymously. Results: About two thirds of the study participants had used illicit drugs including marijuana, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and amphetamines, in Thailand, Japan, and other countries. The participants had engaged in sexual risk behaviors; that is, less than 100% condom use with casual partners and commercial sex workers, and sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The participants tended to practice safer sex in Thailand than in Japan. However, in term of vaginal sex, 12.5% had never used condoms with casual partners and 11.8% had not always used condoms with sex workers in Thailand. Those who engage in unprotected sex in Japan are more likely to engage in the same behaviors in Thailand, and vise-versa. Conclusion: Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention programs targeting Japanese tourists should be established in Thailand.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.