Document 2766
 DOCN  M94A2766
 TI    Sexual behavior of young Japanese women tourists in southern Thailand
       and risk for HIV infection.
 DT    9412
 AU    Vorakitphokatorn S; IPSR Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):23 (abstract no. 066D). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369809
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To study the sexual behavior of young Japanese women tourists
       in Phuket, Thailand. This group was seen as particularly at high risk
       for contracting the HIV infection. METHODS: In-depth interviews were
       conducted in Phuket (southern Thailand) with managers of Japanese tour
       agencies tour guides, beachboys, Japanese women tourists and tourist
       policemen. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and entered. RESULTS:
       Following aggressive promotional activities in Japan for FIT Phuket
       vacation package, there has been a significant increase in visits of
       young Japanese women tourists to the island, with estimates of over
       30,000 Japanese tourists of which 65-70 percent were women in the past 9
       months. These young women tourists are seen as culturally, and socially
       naive and yet willing to take risks by the local service boys;
       beachboys, guides, hotel personnel, etc. who quickly develop casual
       sexual relationship with them. Condom use is sometimes requested by the
       women but the place and the frequency of sex acts does not lend itself
       to any effective preventive behavior. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The
       liberating and exotic environment of a vacation community outside of
       Japan and certain personality traits involving the risk taking behavior
       associated with young people of both sexes have created situations where
       cases of sexual permissiveness, exploitation and unprotected sexual
       intercourse are common. Young Japanese women tourists are generally
       unfamiliar with aspects of travelling safely as well as with the risks
       of various STD's given the very low rate in their own country. The
       young, especially should be well informed and well rehearsed of proper
       protective measures to use in situations requiring cautions before
       embarking on foreign vacation communities. Package tour operators and
       health authorities should take this on as their responsibility.
 DE    Adult  Female  Human  HIV Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Japan/ETHNOLOGY  Male  *Sex Behavior  Social Environment  Thailand
       Travel  Women/*PSYCHOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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