Use and perceptions of sexual and reproductive health services among northern Thai adolescents.
This study sheds light on obstacles to safe sexual health for young Thais and their need for appropriate sexual and reproductive health services. The study population was 1,745 unmarried adolescents aged 17-20 who resided or worked in Chiang Mai, the major city in northern Thailand. The study used quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the vulnerability of sexually active adolescents as well as the lack of support and care for them from parents and health providers. We found that young Thais still prefer pharmacies for self-medication and use government health care facilities as a last resort. Current health services are not suitable for adolescents in northern Thailand because they lack privacy and impose judgemental attitudes, especially towards sexually active adolescent females. Current programs for adolescent sexual and reproductive health focus on education and counselling and do not provide appropriate privacy or clinical care. There is a pressing need for advocacy, and policy support for the development of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Thailand.
Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. arunrat@rihes-cmu.org
Arunrat
A
Tangmunkongvorakul
Cathy
C
Banwell
Gordon
G
Carmichael
Iwu Dwisetyani
ID
Utomo
Sam-Ang
SA
Seubsman
Matthew
M
Kelly
Adrian
A
Sleigh
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013785:Thailand; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult