Document 0378
 DOCN  M9550378
 TI    AIDS in Thailand: a medical student's perspective.
 DT    9505
 AU    Chow DC; Department of Medicine/Pediatrics, Bridgeport Hospital,;
       Connecticut 06610.
 SO    J Community Health. 1994 Dec;19(6):417-31. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95146655
 AB    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become the biggest problem
       facing the health profession of Thailand today. The Ministry of Public
       Health reports that there are 400,000 individuals in Thailand already
       infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and is predicting
       that 4 million will be infected by the year 2000. This explosive
       epidemic first occurred among intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) and
       subsequently spread to other high risk groups, especially prostitutes.
       The heterosexual population was next affected. The AIDS problem in
       Thailand was seen close-up by this writer, then a fourth year medical
       student, studying during an international health elective. At all three
       hospitals where I worked, I encountered large numbers of AIDS related
       admissions. Ten percent of medical beds at a Bangkok hospital were
       occupied by patients with AIDS related problems. In comparison, two
       hospitals located in the northern province of Chiang Mai had 15-20% and
       30-40% of their beds occupied by patients with AIDS complications.
       Opportunistic infections were the primary reason for admissions. This
       paper describes the current AIDS epidemic in Thailand and the preventive
       measures being undertaken to combat it. Strategies to combat AIDS focus
       on preventive measures. The current program in Thailand emphasizes AIDS
       education and awareness, the promotion of condom usage, decreasing
       needle sharing, the screening of donated blood, and the development of
       the GP160 vaccine. The program, however, has been undermined by the
       country's well organized sex industry. Without a clear commitment from
       the Thai government, Thailand faces serious health and economic
       consequences from this epidemic in the coming decade.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/HISTORY/  PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Autobiography  Disease
       Outbreaks/HISTORY/PREVENTION & CONTROL/STATISTICS & NUMER  DATA  Female
       Health Education  History of Medicine, 20th Cent.  Human  HIV
       Seroprevalence  Male  Prostitution  Students, Medical  Substance Abuse,
       Intravenous  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Thailand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  CURRENT
       BIOG-OBIT  HISTORICAL ARTICLE  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).