Prostitution in Thailand: Encyclopedia II - Prostitution in Thailand - HIV/AIDS

Prostitution in Thailand - HIV/AIDS

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Thailand, and especially among sex workers, has been the subject of significant media and academic attention, and Thailand hosted the XV International AIDS Conference, 2004. Nevertheless, this does not seem to have dissuaded a significant number of tourists from partaking in sex with local prostitutes, although awareness of safe sex practices is fairly high among foreign-oriented sex workers.

Mechai Viravaidya, affectionately known as "Mr. Condom" [1], has campaigned tirelessly to increase the awareness of safe sex practices and use of condoms in Thailand. He served as minister for tourism and AIDS prevention from 1991 to 1992; he also founded the restaurant chain Cabbage and Condoms.

After the enactment of the Thai government's first five-year plan to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, including Mechai's "100% condom program," the use of condoms by Thai males during commercial sex has jumped markedly, up to 90%, according to most research studies on the issue.

Thailand was praised for its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS during the late 1990s, but a study in 2005 found that the lack of public support in the previous several years had led to a resurgence. [2]

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "HIV/AIDS", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki