HIV and AIDS in Thailand - Research Paper Example

HIV and AIDS in Thailand Introduction Scholarly research depicts that HIV/Aids presents the case of a worldwide pandemic. Though some countries, like Thailand, have been immensely affected, the effect is felt within and without the country. Since early 1990s, HIV and AIDS pandemic has been a generalized epidemic as bidirectional and sexually transmitted infection. The disease has, however, prediction of eventually becoming worse than even the plaque pandemic that stroke Europe and Asia in the historical dates (Karen 19). However, the malady remains restricted majorly among the risk groups, that is, commercial sex workers, men who have sex with fellow men, and the intravenous drug users. Recently, data collected from Africa proved that AIDS is a bidirectional disease whose major mode of transmission is through sex. This paper gives an analysis of AIDS pandemic in Thailand. Causes of HIV and AIDS HIV and AIDS incidences have been increasing marginally in the Thailand nation. This terrible increase is attributed to the drivers of AIDS spread (Clark 4). Marginalized groups like the sex workers, men who have sex with men and the injecting drug users are the high-risk groups in Thailand. Sex workers, just like the other marginalized groups, have played a big role in the spread of HIV and AIDS. Though the issue of sex workers as drivers of AIDS spread has raised many debates, the fact remains that paid sex is the excellent driving mode of AIDS pandemic. The factor that has led the rampant spread of AIDS among the sex workers is their common misuse of drugs and the sharing of the needles (McNeil A6). This overlaps two major factors making the disease a common phenomenon among them. Most teenagers in Thailand have ignored the prevention campaigns carried by the country’s government and, instead, are engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors. More than eighty-five per cent of the youth do not consider the damage of HIV, even though more than seventy per cent of STI cases are within the youthful age brackets. Premarital sex among the youth has become a common phenomenon in the country. Only twenty percent of the youth who engage in sex activity use condom during the act (Feimuth, Noar and Edgar 293). Sex workers are criminalized population, so they play the game in secret, thus, it is very hard to track or monitor them. Another driver group of HIV prevalence is the drug users. In the first few years of Thailand’s epidemic, HIV was common among the users of heroine, opium and cocaine who injected the drugs into their bodies with syringes and shared them with friends. The government has not made a great deal of success in reducing HIV infections among the drug users (Finkel 258). In spite of their efforts to crackdown drug trafficking in the country, the activity has roots underground, making the prevention campaign difficult, if not impossible, for this group. The prime minister of the country held a conference against drug abuse where he addressed the drug issue. Another major risk group in cause of AIDS in Thailand is represented by men who have sex with fellow men. In Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the prevalence if AIDS among the gays rose by twenty-eight per cent, in a span of two years, that is, between 2003 and 2005. Currently, AIDS prevalence among the gays in Thailand is the highest in major towns (Eur 19). Comparably, men who have sex with fellow men have the highest prevalence to contract AIDS to the general population. The country has formed gay associations which educate the victims and rehabilitate them, if need be. Users as patients are not criminals, as suggested (Poundstone et al 23).The organizations have established local community centers for men who have sex with fellow men across the country where they can meet and socialize. Thailand has a high number of migrant workers (bridging population) who have provided the greater share of work force in the country. The major challenge faced by this group of people is the language barrier and fear of arrest and deportation back to their motherland (Eur 20). The population is, thus, suppressed to access the information about HIV and AIDS, as well as medical services, because of fear of identification as aliens. Due to lack of general knowledge about HIV, these groups of desperate people end up buying sex from sex workers and exchange multiple partners. This has made AIDS incidences among this group rise and contribute largely to its spread over the country. Studies showed that the AIDS prevalence among the migrant pregnant women was thrice that of the common Thailand women (Clark 21). Effects of HIV and AIDS in Thailand The current findings in Thailand have shown that about five percent of the entire country’s population has AIDS. This holds but remains with a significant majority of the population remaining untested. The actual number, therefore, is much higher than the indicated percentage. The dark part of this is that majority of cases found with high incidents of the disease were among the adults aged 15-50. This segment consist the most responsible bracket for generating the economic activities of the country (Finkel 262). The spread of HIV and AIDS in Thailand has a negative impact on an important context of human resource. Due to the combined effect of crisis and mortality rates, the fertility rates have plunged below the ability to replace the deceased. Thailand nearly loses one million persons per year out of HIV and AIDS. The situation is worse for the working males who are between the ages of 15-24. These age bracket is presumed to decrease by half in the next twenty years. This has a direct implication of that the long-term economic growth of Thailand will definitely decline. The AIDS prevalence rates in Thailand spells out how the economic make up of the country has possible potential of deterioration. The country may not be able to acquire and or transfer a broad human capital base to facilitate the economic welfare (Finkel 263). There will also be a less number of skilled and knowledgeable personnel in the production department, as well as reduced returns to investment in human capital over time. The country overall economy is suffering from the decrease in the number of workers with the appropriate skills. This has reduced the national growth potential and has forced some of the country’s major companies to shift from being labor-intensive to capital-intensive in order to curb the effect (McNeil A6). The dependency ratio to the country economy is rapidly increasing. This is because there are fewer workers who can sufficiently support the entire orphaned and aged population (Howe & Herdt 189). The cost of labor in the country has increased leading to the closure of firms and increasing competition in the existing companies. All these facts lead to the raising of doubts on the economic ability of the country. The country will only have the option of importing expatriates to run the country’s economy. The increased mortality and morbidity rate of the working age population has great impact on the government’s effectiveness in performance in Thailand. The composition of the public servants has been constantly changing, as well as the government’s performance on the social services inclusively, hospitals being affected (Eur 29). Due to HIV prevalence, the number of employees taking early retirement for medical purposes and those dying in service has increased. It causes disruptions to the working process of the government, as well as its efficiency. The government in recent past has been spending a lot in the prevention and care for the AIDS victims. It has to take care of the orphaned children from the different households, which have been swept by the malady. The amounts spend on orphanage care by the Thailand government amounts to 9.3 percent of the total national output. The government has also to incur a lot of cost on the medical services of AIDS victims (Satcher & Farmer 83). The purchase of antiretroviral therapy has cost the government more 24.8 per cent of its national output. There is also cost of palliative care and treatment for opportunistic infections. All these circumstances have drained the government of Thailand making it record little economic progress. The cost for medical care expenditures of persons with AIDS is alarmingly high. Few people have been able to afford the same, thus, many have to forego the care. In this case, the poor feel the greatest effect (Mohiddin and Johnston 11). Though the government has made many efforts to avail quality medical services to AIDS victims, the growing number of victims has not been able to access these medical services (Freimuth, Noar & Edgar 303). Families spend a lot for these AIDS victims. For those families that cannot afford the amount, the infected individuals have to undergo ostracition. Government measures to limit AIDS spread Thailand government has been fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country. It has put forth measures to curb further spread of the disease. First, although commercial sex is an illegal activity in the country, the government realized it was the main agent for AIDS spreading. It, thus, advocated for 100% condom use campaign in the brothels and massage parlors. The government also has instigated programmes that publically educate people on the prevalence of HIV and AIDS. To achieve this, the government has been organizing workshops to train agents who go ahead to reach more public (Finkel 271). It has also started radio and TV programs that educate members of public extensively on AIDS prevention measures. HIV prevention also includes mass media campaigns, life-skills training for the teenagers, peer education, and the anti-discrimination campaigns. Governmental campaigns in media call for respect over the female gender and totally discourage men from visiting brothels. The government has also instilled improved educational and vocational opportunities, which are availed to the young women in order to keep them out of sex industry. Conclusion The government of Thailand must take into considerations some effective, preventive measures in order to solve the AIDS pandemic in the country successfully. Although the country has advocated for cost-effective methods like condoms and life-elongating drugs, there is need for more interventions on vaginal microbicides, vaccines, and advocacy for behavioral changes. The government should avail quality cultural factors in sexual and health-care and financially support anti-AIDS control programs (Finkel 273). The government should look at the barriers of effective implementation of the existing methods and devise mechanisms to overcome these barriers. Works Cited Clark, Sean C. Never in a Vacuum: Learning from the Thai Fight Against HIV, 13 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 593 (207). Print. Dhanatya, Cathryn. 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