Alcohol Use and Sexual-risk Behaviors among Female Youths: a Cross-sectional Survey in Central Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 6,176 female youths in central Thailand between December 2007 and February 2008 to explore the association between alcohol use and sexual-risk behaviors classified into 2 groups according to their alcohol drinking in the previous 30 days (yes = 358, no = 5,818). Information was collected by an anonymous self-administered questionnaire from December 2007 to February 2008. Descriptive statistics, a chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were performed to analyze the data. Of all respondents, 5.79% admitted to drinking alcohol. Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, revealed that sexual behavioral factors were associated with current alcohol consumption: forced coitus, had coitus, alcohol or drug use before last coitus, no condom use during last coitus and no birth control before last coitus (p<0.05). An alcohol prevention program and effective intervention strategies should focus on vulnerable groups and cooperate with parents, schools and community efforts among adolescents (such as maintaining their love and attention, providing knowledge of disadvantages and impacts of alcohol drinking including sex education and prevention) should be implemented to prevent underage alcohol consumption and other adverse short-term and long-term consequences.