Risk behaviors and life skills towards sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections among Thai married couples.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study of 706 couples or 1,412 individuals with age 15-44 years was carried out to assess risk behaviors, life skill level, and its relationship, and to investigate HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV among individuals who voluntarily participated in blood screening. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All studied participants who voluntarily participated and signed consents were interviewed about risk behaviors and life skills. Only 166 individuals voluntarily participated in blood screening for HBVseromarkers, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV RESULTS: The results revealed that, of 1,412 individuals, 15.30% had a history of regular alcohol consumption, 11.26% had tattoos, 5.10% had a history of extramarital sex without using condoms, and 2.83% had a history of sex services. Males had significantly higher risk behavior scores than females, p < 0.0001. For life skills, 78.71% of the participants had the middle level of life skill scores. Males had relatively lower life skill scores than females, but it was not significant. The relationship between the levels of risk behavior scores and life skill scores showed significant association, p < 0.0001. Results from blood screening showed 31.33% ofHB V seromarker positive, 6.63% ofHBsAg positive, 1.21% ofanti-HCV positive, and 1.21% ofanti-HIV positive. CONCLUSION: The present study showed the significant association between the levels of life skill scores and the levels of risk behavior scores. The participants who had higher level of life skill scores had lower level of risk behavior scores.