HIV-1 infection in young men in northern Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk factors for HIV-1 infection in young men in northern Thailand.


METHODS
At enrollment into a prospective study, data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire and serologic testing on a cohort of 1115 young men selected by lottery for conscription.


RESULTS
The overall HIV-1 infection rate was 6.9%; however, the rate was 15.3% among the 387 (34.7%) men who had been living in the upper north subregion of Thailand compared with 2.5% for the remaining 728 men (P < 0.001). A history of sex with female prostitutes was reported by 74.7% of men and increased frequency of this type of sex was highly associated with HIV-1 infection and a history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms (chi 2 for trend, P < 0.001). In stratified and multivariate analyses, however, history of STD symptoms, reported by 42.5% of the cohort, was most strongly associated with HIV-1 infection. Only 42.8% of men who reported sex with prostitutes had used condoms more than half the time.


CONCLUSIONS
Young men in the general population in northern Thailand are at high risk for HIV-1 infection via sex with female prostitutes; STD are highly associated with HIV-1 infection. Increasing condom use and controlling STD should be immediate goals of HIV control programs.
Nopkesorn
T
T
Somdej Pranaresuan Maharaj Hospital, Phitsanuloke, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mastro
T D
TD
Sangkharomya
S
S
Sweat
M
M
Singharaj
P
P
Limpakarnjanarat
K
K
Gayle
H D
HD
Weniger
B G
BG
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology