Sexual relations and condom use among young male factory workers in northern Thailand

PURPOSE: This article analyzes sexual relations and condom use among young male factory workers at an industrial estate in Northern Thailand, so as to clarify their HIV risk situation. METHODS: The analysis is based on data obtained from a total of 13 months of ethnographic field research at an industrial estate between June 1997 and March 2000. During this period, I interviewed 27 male factory workers, gathering information on their knowledge and awareness of AIDS, HIV preventive behavior, lifestyles, relations with friends, sexual relations, health, and contraception. RESULTS: This study identified the emergence of positive self-images among participants as diligent and respectable factory workers, as a result of life changes, such as having a stable job at the estate and improvement of their social status. Having a wife/lover also stabilized the sexual life, as they tried to avoid sexual relationships with commercial sex workers. All participants had accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS. They had negative images of HIV risk groups such as "poor," "uneductated," and "sexually promiscuous," which stood in opposition to their positive self-images such as "financially stable," "educated," and "self-controlled," Such formation of self-images resulted in the denial of their risk potential. Believing that their sexual partners posed no risk of infection, they hardly ever took HIV preventive measures. In marriage and loving relationships, oral pills were mostly used for contraception, and condom use was seen as unnatural and unnecessary. CONCLUSIONS: It was inferred from the present study that formation of new sexual norms in opposition to traditional sexual norms of Thai men that value sexual philandering would possibly control their risk-taking behavior. New sexual norms emerged as a result of their life and status change from sons of peasants' families to factory workers, and also their conscious effort to differentiate themselves from HIV risk groups. Insofar as their life remains stable and their mutually exclusive relations with their wife/lover are maintained, they should have no risk of infection. However, some of the participants in this study were in multiple sexual relationships and almost all of the participants did not take any preventive measures, suggesting a potential hazard. Effective HIV prevention campaigns for factory workers that clearly state that every sexual activity involves a potential risk of infection are required.