Changes in Sexual Behavior and Attitudes Across Generations and Gender Among a Population-Based Probability Sample From an Urbanizing Province in Thailand.
Thailand has undergone rapid modernization with implications for changes in sexual norms. We investigated sexual behavior and attitudes across generations and gender among a probability sample of the general population of Nonthaburi province located near Bangkok in 2012. A tablet-based survey was performed among 2,138 men and women aged 15-59 years identified through a three-stage, stratified, probability proportional to size, clustered sampling. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out accounting for the effects of multistage sampling. Relationship of age and gender to sexual behavior and attitudes was analyzed by bivariate analysis followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust for possible confounding. Patterns of sexual behavior and attitudes varied substantially across generations and gender. We found strong evidence for a decline in the age of sexual initiation, a shift in the type of the first sexual partner, and a greater rate of acceptance of adolescent premarital sex among younger generations. The study highlighted profound changes among young women as evidenced by a higher number of lifetime sexual partners as compared to older women. In contrast to the significant gender gap in older generations, sexual profiles of Thai young women have evolved to resemble those of young men with attitudes gradually converging to similar sexual standards. Our data suggest that higher education, being never-married, and an urban lifestyle may have been associated with these changes. Our study found that Thai sexual norms are changing dramatically. It is vital to continue monitoring such changes, considering the potential impact on the HIV/STIs epidemic and unintended pregnancies.
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan. teeranee.t@gmail.com.
Teeranee
T
Techasrivichien
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Niphon
N
Darawuttimaprakorn
Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Sureeporn
S
Punpuing
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
Patou Masika
PM
Musumari
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
Bhekumusa Wellington
BW
Lukhele
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
Christina
C
El-Saaidi
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
S Pilar
SP
Suguimoto
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Mitchell D
MD
Feldman
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
Masako
M
Ono-Kihara
Department of Global Health and Socio-Epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida-Konoe cho, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto, 6068501, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Kihara
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Multistage sampling; Sex survey; Sexual attitudes; Sexual behavior; Thailand