HIV/AIDS Prevention in Thailand: Success and Challenges

This article discusses Thailands proactive and committed efforts to slow the spread of AIDS and HIV infections. Thailand established HIV/AIDS strategies and policies based on research and evaluation. Government made a commitment to financing and implementation. The spread of HIV/AIDS slowed but about 1 million became infected. The Thai government altered strategies and policy as knowledge of the extent of risk behavior grew and the social economic and cultural roots of the epidemic were revealed. Programs expanded beyond the public health sector to socioeconomic sectors. Equal partnerships were formed between private businesses nongovernmental and community organizations. By 1996 the Thai government supported 91% of AIDS program efforts. Research studies were initiated in 1989. In 1991 all government sponsored sexually transmitted disease clinics promoted condom use in the commercial sex trade. There was encouragement among commercial sex owners sex workers and clients to use condoms. AIDS education was incorporated into school curricula in 1990. AIDS education evolved to include life skills empowerment. Early studies alerted the government to increased HIV infections among the Royal Thai Armys new young recruits and pregnant women. During 1990-97 declines occurred in exposure to sex workers and extramarital sex. There is evidence of change in sex behavior among at-risk groups. The prevalence of HIV is still high despite declining trends. The crisis will be exacerbated by financial crises increased immigration from neighboring countries and reduced AIDS budgets.