title: Risk Factors for HIV Infection among Young Thai Men during 2005-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thailand is one of several countries with a continuing generalized HIV epidemic. We evaluated the risk factors for HIV prevalence among 17-29 year old men conscripted by a random process into the Royal Thai Army (RTA) in 8 cohorts from 2005-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of case-cohort studies were conducted among the male RTA conscripts who had been tested for HIV seroprevalence after they were inducted. Men who were HIV positive were compared with a systematic random sample (1 in 30-40) of men from the total population of new conscripts. Each subject completed a detailed risk factor questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 240,039 young Thai men were conscripted into the RTA and were screened for HIV seroprevalence between November 2005 and May 2009. Of 1,208 (0.5%) HIV positive cases, 584 (48.3%) men were enrolled into the study. There were 7,396 men who were enrolled as a comparison group. Among conscripts who had an education lower than a college-level, the independent risk factors for HIV infection were age in years (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.28-1.48), a history of sex with another man (AOR 3.73, 95% CI 2.70-5.13), HCV infection (AOR 3.89, 95% CI 2.56-5.90), and a history of sex with a female sex worker (FSW) (AOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.66). Among conscripts who had a college degree, the independent risk factor for HIV infection was a history of sex with another man (AOR 23.04, 95% CI 10.23-51.90). Numbers of sexual partners increased and the age at first sex, as well as the use of condoms for sex with a FSW decreased in successive cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HIV seroprevalence among cohorts of 17-29 years old men has remained at about 0.5% overall during 2005-2009. The most significant behavior associated with HIV prevalence was a history of sex with another man. Our data indicate continuing acquisition of HIV among young men in Thailand in recent years, especially among men with a history of same sex behavior.
authors: Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Ram
authors: R
authors: Rangsin
authors: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Khunakorn
authors: K
authors: Kana
authors: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Thippawan
authors: T
authors: Chuenchitra
authors: The Royal Thai Army Institute of Pathology (AIP), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Akachai
authors: A
authors: Sunantarod
authors: Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Mathirut
authors: M
authors: Mungthin
authors: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Supanee
authors: S
authors: Meesiri
authors: Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Wirote
authors: W
authors: Areekul
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors: Kenrad E
authors: KE
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies