فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: The rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents is a significant public health concern in Thailand, often linked to risky sexual behaviors.Objectives: This study aimed to examine both risky and preventative sexual behaviors among vocational certificate students in Songkhla Province. Additionally, it sought to identify the factors that influence condom use within this demographic.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to May 2024, targeting students aged 18 to 24 years in Southern Thailand. We developed a comprehensive questionnaire and collected data through self-administered online surveys. Descriptive statistics were employed to outline the baseline characteristics of the participants, while binary logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with regular condom use. The analyses performed using R software.Results: A total of 656 participants completed the questionnaire, with 55.9% identifying as male, and all respondents were single. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.99 years (±1.17) for males and 15.96 years (±1.22) for females. Lifetime regular condom use was reported by 57.0% of participants, while 47.8% indicated consistent condom use throughout their sexual experiences. Regular condom usage was positively associated with having multiple sexual partners (P value=0.01), whereas reliance on oral contraceptives (P value<0.001) and emergency contraception (P value<0.001) correlated with lower rates of consistent condom use.Conclusion: Nearly half of the surveyed students reported inconsistent condom use, with risky behaviors linked to having multiple partners, a preference for convenience, and reliance on alternative contraceptive methods such as oral and emergency pills. Future educational interventions are essential to clarify misconceptions about condom use, promote safer sexual practices, reduce the transmission of STDs, and prevent unintended pregnancies.