Sexual Paradigms and the Prevention of and Response to Teenage Pregnancy Problems in the Thai Society

Abstract

This paper critiques paradigms in sexuality that affect to an implementation of prevention and dealing with teenage pregnancy. In Thai’s society, causes of teenage pregnancy are associated with the paradigms in sexuality. For example, differences of sexual attitudes between adults and teenagers and negative attitudes toward teens’ sexual behaviors are obstacle for Thai teenagers to have a proper sex education and to access contraceptive services. The implementation that aims to reduce teenage pregnancy rate, enhance teenagers’ sexuality literacy, and promote sexual responsibility in Thai’s society, needs paradigms shift. In addition, the paper provides examples of the shifting paradigms and their outcomes of people who participated in projects related to teenage pregnancies that are supported by Thai Health Promotion Foundation.