Abstract
HIV Infection and AIDS in ThailandThe Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome(AIDS) was recognized in 1991 when a cluster of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was reported in the United States. Disease surveillance systems were sets up in several countries including Thailand so that the first case in Thailand was reported in 1994. Because the epidemic was confined to special groups ie. Homosexual men, injecting drug users, and commercial sex workers during the first year, health authorities misunderstood that AIDS was disease of the foreigners and interventions for the Thais were not necessary. Control measures started in late 1980's, from Veneral Disease (STD) division using epidemiological data to propose justified control measures. The AIDS Division was extablished in 1990 to coordinate national activities. During the 1990's, the epidemic expanded to general population through heterosexual people especially those who visited commercial sex establishments and through casual sex later. The median infection rates among women attending ante-natal care (ANC) clinics and 21 year old Thai men were 1.5 The essential control measure now is to reduce risk per act among sex and drug related population through condom promotion and needle exchange with bleach supply. Long term goal is to promote and maintain safe behaviors which will enable individuals, families, and society to protect themselves and their society. Biomedical, epidemiological, and social research studies allow as to understand patterns and determinants of the epidemic that there had been two distinct epidemics among sex and drug acquired populations. Studies also allow us to learn the difference of normal ranges of CD4 between Thai and Caucasian people. More studies are in great need for rapid and effective control measures.
