171817 Risk correlations among Thai LGB youth participating in a Thai Youth Risk Behavior Survey in Bangkok, Thailand

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 8:30 AM

Martha W. Moon, RN, PhD, MPH , School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Patcharin Nintachan, BSc, MNS, PhD , Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Bangkok, Thailand
     
Purpose: To determine risk behavior among Thai youth identifying as homosexual or bisexual (HB), and heterosexual (HET) using a modified and translated Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in Bangkok. This is the first youth survey that incorporated questions regarding sexual orientation and same sex behavior in a YRBS format in Thailand.

Methods: Over 1400 students enrolled in 6 schools in 6 grades in Bangkok were surveyed using a modified self-administered YRBS. Schools and classrooms were selected to achieve a representative sample of secondary schools in Bangkok.

Findings: 20.3% reported either identifying as HB, or being unsure of their sexual orientation. The authors omitted the data from the “unsure” students and compared the behavior of the HB students (n=189) to those who identified as HET. Significantly more females (19.2%) identified as HB than males (9.2%). Compared to HET students, almost twice as many HB students attempted suicide in the past 12 months; HB students were more likely to engage in binge drinking; and HB students were significantly more likely to report using marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and glue. No significant differences were seen between HB and HET students in history of having sexual intercourse, use of a condom during last sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, drinking before having sex, or pregnancy. Significantly more HB students describe themselves as overweight and report using laxatives or vomiting to lose weight.

Conclusions: Thai HB youth engage in higher risk behavior related to drug use, attempted suicide, and weight loss practices.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify high risk behavior among Thai LGB youth. 2. Discuss the significance of adding specific sexual orientation and same sex behavior questions to YRBS surveys.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: These questions were part of Patcharin's dissertation. I was her supervisor and asked her to add these questions which are of interest to me and my work. She is in Thailand and unable to present.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: LGBT Youth Research
See more of: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus of Public Health Workers