Prevalence and correlates of sexual intercourse under influence of alcohol among Thai adolescents: lessons from a nationwide school-based survey

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Having sex under the influence of alcohol is a risky behavior and this study explored its prevalence and correlates among school-going Thai adolescents. Methods The data from the 2021 Thailand Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), including a nationally representative sample of students in grades 7–12th, was used to extract the relevant variables including demographic, psychosocial, substance use, and risky sex behaviors. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds of engaging in sex while intoxicated across the independent variables while accounting for age and sex differences. Results Approximately 30.45 % of respondents reported alcohol intoxication and 37.75 % reported engaging in sexual intercourse while intoxicated at least once. Older adolescents (>14 years), males, and those in 11 and 12 grades were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse while intoxicated. Psychosocial factors such as loneliness and anxiety-induced insomnia were associated with increased likelihood, particularly among females. Substance use, including marijuana and amphetamine use, as well as cigarette smoking, correlated with higher odds of engaging in sexual intercourse while intoxicated. Both genders who engaged in sex while intoxicated reported having multiple sexual partners, with males more likely to use condoms. Conclusions The intricate relationship between poor mental health, substance use, and risky sex behaviors along with their association with sex under alcohol influence emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to address the common risk factors and implement effective school-based screening strategies to identify the risk groups, educate them, and prevent the burden of risky sex under alcohol intoxication.