HIV prevalence, sexual and behavioral correlates among Shan, Hill tribe, and Thai male sex workers in Northern Thailand

Abstract

This paper reports demographic characteristics, HIV prevalence, and correlates among male sex workers (MSW) in Chiangmai, Thailand. A behavioral assessment survey was included as part of the Thailand Ministry of Public Health HIV sentinel surveillance conducted during June 2003. A sample of 181 MSW from 14 sex establishments around Chiangmai who self-identified as sex workers were interviewed. Non-Thai MSW made up half of the sample (48.6%), with the majority being of Shan ethnicity (64.7%). Thai MSW were significantly more likely to report having had receptive anal intercourse (38.0% vs. 11.8%, p<0.001) and to have higher HIV prevalence than non-Thai MSW (11.8% vs. 3.4%, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, having one or more than one steady male partner in the past month (Odds Ratio: 5.56, 95% Confidence Intervals: 1.13–27.27 and 8.29, 2.01–34.20, respectively), and being older than 21 years (2.26, 1.04–4.90) were significantly and independently associated with prevalent HIV infection. While Thai MSW had higher HIV prevalence and engage in riskier activities, culturally appropriate education and outreach activities are still needed for the large number of ethnic minority MSW, particularly Shan MSW.

Keywords:

• male sex workers
• HIV/AIDS
• Thailand
• men who have sex with men
• Thai and Burmese ethnic minorities

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the participants in the study and the staff of the Regional Office of Disease Control 10 Chiangmai. A New and Minority Investigator Award from the Johns Hopkins Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program (D43 TW000010-15) funded the behavioral addendum and supported T.E. Guadamuz.