Sexual coercion among adolescents in northern Thailand: prevalence and associated factors.

ABSTRACT

Sexual coercion was assessed in a cross-sectional survey of drug use and sexual behavior in vocational school students from Chiang Rai, Thailand (n = 1725; ages 15-21), using audio-computer assisted self-interview. Sexual coercion was reported by 6.5% of males and 21% of females. Mean age at first occurrence was 16 years (range 8-20) among males and 17 years (range 5-21) among females. Most perpetrators were male (52% among males; 98% among females) and known by the participants. Among females, associated factors were history of pregnancy, selling sex, marijuana use, perceived risk of STD, two or more lifetime sexual partners, and living away from family. Among males, associated factors were homo- or bisexual self-identification, parents living together, and ulcerative STD history.