HIV Risk Behavior and Substance Abuse of Adolescents and Young Adults in Bangkok

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess the extent of substance abuse, HIV risk and prevention behaviors among adolescents and young adults in Bangkok. Data were collected from sentinel surveillance surveys conducted in Bangkok during 2009 - 2013. The study samples were 20,570 adolescents age 14 – 18 and young adults age 19 - 22. It was found that young adults were five times more likely to use addictive drugs such as alcohol, cigarettes, or amphetamines than the adolescents. The young adults also reported a higher level of risky sexual behavior and injection drug use; and a high rate of HIV/STI screening. Adolescents who used addictive drugs were more sexually active or likely to have injected drugs [sexual experience: OR=8.64, 95%CI=2.66-24.31(alcohol), OR=5.12, 95%CI=1.92-18.73(meth-amphetamine): injected drugs OR=5.78, 95%CI=3.96-10.0 (alcohol), OR=6.31, 95%CI=3.36-10.0 (tobacco), OR=1.84, 95%CI=1.53-2.96 (methamphetamine)]. Young adults who drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes were more sexually active, practice unsafe sex or have multiple sex partners than their peers who did not drink or smoke [sexual experience OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.32-2.32 (alcohol), OR=2.63, 95%CI=1.72-4.03 (tobacco); multiple sex partners OR=2.31, 95%CI=1.90-7.35 (alcohol), OR=1.84, 95%CI=2.90-5.36 (tobacco) OR=2.34, 95%CI=1.42-4.29 (methamphetamine)]. Young adults who used amphetamines were more likely to inject drugs and not seek voluntary counseling and HIV testing (VCT) than those who had not used amphetamines. Of the total samples, those who used addictive drugs had difficulty with self-control to avoid the risk. There need to be more campaigns to increase uptake of VCT/STI screening services for youth who use addictive drugs. Also, the age for HIV counseling and testing without parental consent should be reduced below the current limit of 18 years.