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This study aims to evaluate the effect of social marketing activities under a campaign implemented in Thailand to improve knowledge and attitude skills and practices of parents to discuss sex with the youth in their care. The target population was Thai parents or guardians with a child or youth in their care aged 7 to 18 years. The research design is a quasi-experimental study using the Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) technique. The matching strategy is an attempt to control for characteristics of the parents and exposure to the social marketing activities. The resulting weighted sample from a survey—conducted in five provinces of the country in 2016—consisted of 1,329 persons. Multiple linear regression analysis found that the social marketing activities of the campaign had a significantly positive influence on parents/guardians' knowledge and attitude skills (KAS) and practices (Practice) in talking with children about sex. The statistical analysis confirmed that above the line (ATL) social marketing activities improved KAS of parents/guardians exposed to the campaign (when compared with those who were not exposed). Similarly, the analysis found that below the line (BTL) social marketing activities improved both KAS and Practice of parents/guardians at a higher level than ATL activities alone. Parents/guardians who were exposed to both ATL and BTL had better KAS and Practice than those exposed to only ATL or BTL alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to study the factors that enabled persons at risk of HIV to obtain voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Thailand. This research was a cross-sectional study and data were collected during May to July 2013 in 8, purposively selected provinces. The method for selecting respondents used time-location quota sampling to achieve a total sample of 751 persons. The proportion who had VCT in the year prior to the survey was 56%.The significant enabling factors associated with VCT were having someone encourage them to go for testing and receiving information about VCT In addition, other significant factors for female sex workers were self-assessed risk for HIV and having had risk behavior, and for men who have sex with men the factors were awareness of eligibility for VCT. Thus, in order to achieve the VCT target for higher risk populations by 2016, there should be special mechanisms to inform the different groups, along with improvements in outreach services to make VCT more convenient for key affected populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]