The Development and validation of krathom dependence screening test and krathom withdrawal rating scale

Thesis (Ph.D., (Epidemiology))--Prince of Songkla University, 201

HIV Testing and HIV Positivity Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) With and Without History of High-Risk Behaviors: Findings From a Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) Survey in Southern Thailand

People who inject drugs (PWIDs) may engage in other behaviors with high risk of HIV transmission to various extents. However, data are scarce regarding differences in HIV testing and HIV positivity among PWIDs with and without high-risk behaviors. Such data can help inform stakeholders with regard to program prioritization. The objective of this study was to assess the extent that lifetime and past-year histories of HIV tests and HIV positivity varied by history of high-risk behaviors among PWIDs. We conducted a cross-sectional study with respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in the deep south provinces of Thailand during late 2019 thru early 2020. Data collection was done using structured questionnaire with face-to-face interviews. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A total of 283 PWIDs gave verbal informed consent, and 282 PWIDs participated in the interview ( n  = 282 PWIDs). Approximately 44.6% of the participants never had an HIV test. Participants with history of high-risk behaviors had significantly higher odds of lifetime HIV testing than participants with no history of high-risk behaviors (Adjusted OR = 2.94; 95% CI [1.11, 7.78]). Among participants with lifetime history of HIV tests, those with history of high-risk behaviors had significantly higher odds of being HIV-positive than those with no history of high-risk behaviors (Adjusted OR = 2.44; 95% CI [0.73, 8.17]). Stakeholders should consider encouraging those without history of high-risk behaviors not to be complacent about HIV testing, and ensure that those with high-risk behaviors have full access to HIV care when they test positive

Clusters of alcohol and drug use and other health-risk behaviors among Thai secondary school students: a latent class analysis

Abstract Background Alcohol and drug use and other health-risk behaviors tend to cluster together among adolescents and contribute a large amount of harm to both themselves and to others. This paper aims to characterize secondary school students based on their clusters of health-risk behaviors and identify factors determining class membership to these behavior-clusters. Methods Data from a national school survey was used to identify clusters of alcohol and drug use and other health-risk behaviors among secondary school students aged 12–15 years using a latent class regression model. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of the cluster membership. Results A total of 25,566 students were included in the analysis, of which 88% were classified as having low-risk behaviors reporting only moderate alcohol use; 11% as having moderate-risk behaviors, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, fighting, carrying a weapon, and alcohol and tobacco use; and 0.6% as having high-risk behaviors, such as use of illicit drugs, particularly kratom and cannabis. Males, older students, those with a poor school performance, not living with parents, drug use by family members and peers, and having a low level of perceived disdain from their friends if they used drugs were significant risk factors for being in the moderate- and high-risk behavior classes. Conclusions Alcohol, tobacco and drug use, as well as other health-risk behaviors such as fighting, are clustered in Thai secondary school students. This result highlights the importance of comprehensive prevention and education strategies, particularly for moderate to high-risk groups