RESUMO
This study was a survey research aiming to investigate sexual behaviors and opinions on sexuality of adolescents in a slum community. The study group comprised of 377 adolescents aged 12-22 years in a slum community in Bangkok randomly selected, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Results indicated that 18.8% of the adolescents were sexually experienced with the average age of 15 years old at first intercourse. 63.1% of the adolescents had unprotected sexual intercourse with lovers or friends. Almost one-third of the population believed that premarital sexual activity was acceptable. One-sixth of the adolescents agreed that having sexual intercourse with a lover is safe, assuming that they had trustworthy partners and that having sexual intercourse was the best way to prevent their lover from having sexual activities with other partners. In addition, gender and age range were found to be the factors that significantly related to the adolescents' opinions that premarital sexual activity was acceptable and having sexual intercourse with a lover was safe (p < 0.05), whereas the relationship between the opinions and education level was statistically insignificant. It is recommended that familial, academic, community and public health support are necessary in educating the adolescents on reproductive health and family planning in order to reduce high risk behaviors associated with acquiring HIV and other STDs.