HIV Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mahasarakham Province, Northeastern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: This study assessed HIV prevention knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices among YMSM in Mahasarakham Province and identified the factors associated with preventive behaviors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 2023 and December 2024. A simple random sampling technique was employed to recruit 650 YMSM in Mahasarakham Province. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed.Results: The mean age of participants was 21.52 years. Overall, 52.31% reported a moderate level of HIV preventive practices, 33.85% a high level, and 13.85% a low level. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, education, HIV testing history, STI screening, HIV-related knowledge, and attitudes were significantly associated with preventive practices. Participants with high HIV-related knowledge were 4.45 times more likely to engage in preventive behaviors (p = 0.005), and those with positive attitudes were 2.54 times more likely to practice prevention (p = 0.016).Conclusion: HIV preventive practices among YMSM remain suboptimal and are influenced by socio-demographic factors, health-service utilization, knowledge, and attitudes. Targeted, youth-friendly, and culturally sensitive interventions are urgently needed.