HIV in Thailand

[Guest voldemar]

As Fountainhall and others indicated HIV is omnipresent in Thailand. For those visitors who just come for short vacations and practice safer sex, it is probably a nonissue. It is becoming more serious if one gets involved with a local on longer term basis. In my case I had two long distance LTR which ended up eventually because my partners tested positive.

I would like to emphasize that in both cases it was not "passionate love" but rather an arrangement where both parties were more or less comfortable and where I provided (quite modest) financial support. I made sure that both young men are in good health and provided support for "transitional" period. By now,HIV is still a devastating (but probably not terminal) decease and younger and healthy man can cope with it. There are government programs in Thailand and by no means this is a death sentence. For older guys, not in good health it may be a more serious issue. There are other considerations based on which I decided to terminate above mentioned relationships (e.g. HIV disqualify for retirement visa in Malaysia and second passport in Dominica both of which I seriously consider).

I have to admit though that both decisions were not easy.

I am curious what do you think?

[Guest fountainhall]

voldemar reinforces an excellent point. The rate of HIV amongst msm in Thailand is extremely high, having risen from 18% in 2003 to 24.7% in 2009. Remember that fact: statistically, one in four of the guys you might meet here could well be infected with HIV!

 

One of the main reasons is a major reduction in government-led public education programmes. Thailand once led the world in its HIV prevention campaigns. Sadly, successive governments have drastically reduced their efforts in the 21st century. What is most worrying is the lack of condom use amongst teenagers and younger guys, as many posters in various forums have reported after visiting some of the new saunas that have sprung up in recent years for young Thais who prefer Thais.

 

It is thought that around 85% of Thai youth do not see HIV as something that they should be concerned about, even though 70% of all STI cases in Thailand occur among this group. Premarital sex has become more common among young Thais, but only 20-30% of sexually active young people are using condoms consistently

http://www.avert.org/thailand-aids-hiv.htm

 

Equally worrying in my view is the growing tendency for bareback anal sex. This is quite obviously on the increase, if you judge by a growing number of entries on the gayromeo and other dating sites. It is sadly obvious that there are some farang visiting Thailand who are intent of having bareback sex despite its known risks, not only in terms of HIV infection but also in the spread of a host of other STDs.

 

As if that were not enough warning, the Gaybuttonthai forum held a poll a few months ago asking posters a series of questions about their last HIV tests. Out of a total of 62 responses, 12 had tested negative in the previous year. A further 25 had tested negative in the previous 1 and 10 years. Astonishingly (at least in my view – although I admire the posters honesty), 13 had never once been tested and a further 12 had tested positive. Despite msm being advised to have regular testing, less than 20% had been tested within the last 12 months. Of the remaining 80% - discounting those who had tested positive – it can reasonably be assumed that some were in fact HIV positive at the time the poll was taken.

 

Since this group is likely to have reasonably regular sexual encounters in Thailand, taken together with the growing lack of condom use, the possibilities of transmission to Thais and vice-versa could at the very least be higher than average.

 

My aim is not to point fingers at anyone; merely to reinforce two oft expressed views. First, for those who visit Thailand, practicing safe sex is essential if you really want to leave Thailand just with happy memories and not also with one of a group of nasty diseases. Second, everyone needs to be tested regularly. I have also read on another Board a host of members who seem to think that getting your Thai friend tested before you have sex with him will make your encounter safer. This is pie-in-the-sky nonsense. As everyone should be aware, the HIV antibodies take about 3 months to appear in the bloodstream. So a test today only reveals your, or your new friend’s, HIV status 3 months ago. Anything could have happened in the intervening 3 months. So regular testing along with proper condom use is vital.

 

As a short postscript, New Zealand has just announced figures indicating the country in 2010 had almost certainly the worst increase in msn HIV cases ever. The numbers are tiny compared to Thailand – but I believe they are indicative of a trend. Too many msm believe that HIV is now a controllable illness rather than a death sentence. This may be true, but reports from the second half of 2009 about diseases associated with premature aging amongst those who have been on anti retroviral drugs for a long time are pretty frightening.

 

http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/2011/03/08/10698.worst-year-on-record-for-msm-hiv-infection-rates-in-new-zealand

 

http://nymag.com/health/features/61740/

[Guest voldemar]

Remember that fact: statistically, one in four of the guys you might meet here could well be infected with HIV!

 

 

 

 

I agree that testing guys during short encounters makes no sense. In my case I tested (during many years of visits) only two guys and both guys tested positive. Another guy rejected to take the test and nobody ever admitted to be positive. I respect the privacy of others and in particular rejection of being tested but in this case it is my decision whether to continue the relationship which involve financial support on my end.

[Guest fountainhall]

Thailand's HIV figures are bad, and will no doubt get worse until pubic education programmes kick in once again. But it's important to remember that no country is 'safe', only that some may be safer than others. I believe it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that safe sex is practised by ourselves and by our parters, whoever and wherever they may be. The one exception would be those in a loving, committed monogamous relationship who have been regularly tested. The only problem then is how long does a relationship remain strictly monogamous. I am sure some do. But if I look at the history of friends of mine who have been in relationships lasting as long as 30 years, there seems an almost universal need to 'stray' sexually after about 5 years or so. In this case, safe sex again needs to be practised.