| The objective of this retrospective descriptive research was to study situation and trend of behavior related to HIV infection in high school grade 8 and 11 and 2nd Year vocational students in Srisaket province, during 2005 – 2007. All secondary data was selected by two -stage sampling. Self-answering computerized questionnaire installed in handheld computer (PALM model Zire 21) were utilized to obtained data on behaviors related to HIV infection. These data were composed of personal data, experience of sexual relation, experience on drug usage, awareness and knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Data were analyzed by Epi Info 2002 for Window version 3.2.
The results were obtained from 6,847 students (43.8% male and 56.2% female). Most of subjects had lived with their parents. The access to pornographic media of all 3 groups has demonstrated a raising trend during the 3-year period and the trend was more noticed in male groups. The results also indicated that 76.3% male students and 90.6% female students had the first sexual experience with their girlfriends/boyfriends or their regular partners and 70.7% female students was voluntarily. The condom use in their first experience was only 54.0%. While rate of condom usage, with regular partners was 27.3% and 14.0% in male and female, respectively. Incentive sexual interaction, alcoholic drinking and using addictive substances before having sexual interaction were 10.8%, 51.3% and 12.7% ,respectively. The level of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS infection was 32.9% by UNGASS core indicators ,whereas, it was 6.2% by indicators performed by Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control.
It could be concluded HIV/AIDS-related risk behaviors in youth was gradually inclined no matter what having sex at young, low rate of condom usage, availability on access to pornographic stimuli without control, addictive substances abuse, and having inappropriate knowledge and skill to HIV/AIDS prevention as well. To confront the growing problem of HIV /AIDS infection in this risk group, educating and raising their awareness via many activities, sex education, life skill, safe sex, counseling for instance, was necessarily supported and provided for abatement and adaptation of risky behavior to infection by government and non- governmental agencies incorporation. However, such activities should be appropriate for their development stage, tradition, culture and every issue concerning in their life style.
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