Big condoms partly to blame for Thai teen STI spike: ministry, Latest Others News - The New Paper
News

Big condoms partly to blame for Thai teen STI spike: ministry

This article is more than 12 months old

Are Thai teens too embarrassed to choose condoms that fit?

Thai health ministry officials said that could be one of the reason why there has been a recent spike in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among their peers.

In a statement ahead of Valentine’s Day on Saturday (Feb 14), the Ministry of Public Health warned that STIs among 10-19 year olds had increased almost five times in the last 10 years. 

Said the statement: “It is due to the fact that only 43 per cent (of teenagers) use condoms — and also because they choose condoms that are too big for their actual sizes and they are afraid they will be mocked for being too small.”

The ministry added it planned to spend 47 million baht (S$1.95 million) this year to distribute more than 43 million condoms to people across the country.

Experts say that lack of awareness has led to soaring rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs. 

According to the United Nations, the birthrate among Thai teenagers was 47 per 1,000 girls from 2006 to 2010 – roughly in line with neighbouring Cambodia, but significantly higher than Malaysia’s 14.

Source: AFP

thailandUncategorisedcondomsteenager