PUBLISHED: 13 Apr 2024 at 04: 00
In light of the rising number of sexually transmitted diseases (STD ) cases reported over the past five years, the Disease Control Department has expressed concerns about unsafe sex among young people.
The office stated that research has shown that the number of hepatitis patients has increased by 2.5 times last year compared to 2018, and that the number has also tripled for the adolescent group.
It said Thailand has a 0.5- 0.8 % annual rate of HIV infection, with new situations typically found among young people aged between 15- 24, accounting for 47 % of the estimated 9, 000 new cases periodically.
” For a large number of hepatitis situations suggests many of them have unsafe sex, which leads to five to nine times more possibility of being infected with HIV/Aids disease”, said Dr Virawat Manosuddhi, the district’s official.
Dr Virawat suggested that people should discover whether their intimate partner has any blisters, pustules, or scars, but more important, contraception should always be used.
They can help prevent sexual diseases, Hepatitis B infections and unwanted pregnancy, he said.
Under the universal healthcare policy, people who consider themselves to be at high risk should undergo tests twice yearly at no cost in hospitals or nearby healthcare facilities.
Through the state-run Pao Tang application, you can get condoms and HIV/Aids test kits for free.