Sexuality of male adolescents : a case study of urban male adolescents at risk to sexual behavior in Chiang Mai province

Abstract

The research study was aimed at studying thoughts, beliefs and sexual behavior of urban male adolescents exposed to sexual behavior in Chiang Mai Province. This study employed qualitative research techniques with case study and purposive sampling method for selecting the study site, which was Muang District or urban zone in Chiang Mai Province. The key informants in the study were students, aged between 17-19 years studying in vocational certificate level, senior high school level and adult education system. In-depth interviews and focus group discussion techniques were used to collect the data, which was analyzed according to concepts relating to the research study and presented in a descriptive method. The results suggested that there was a variety of meanings of pre-marital sex for male adolescents. They defined their first sexual relationship as seeking sexual experience, resulting in having the first sexual relationship with their girlfriend, an unintentional sexual relationship if it was the result of intimacy and getting drunk with their sex partner and it would be considered an intentional sexual relationship if it was a sexual relationship with their girlfriend, resulting from going out together and staying with each other alone. They defined their first sexual relationship as sexual desire with their first sex partner or others. The study also suggested that the male adolescents didnot have a risk perception of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS if they had a sexual relationship with their girlfriend but would have a risk perception of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS when they had a sexual relationship without condom use with a easy-going girl. Accordingly, their risk perception to the diseases related to social meanings they gave to their sex partners. The male adolescents had a perception of masculinity in terms of personality traits, emotionality, mentality and characteristics, which were superior to femininity. Furthermore, they believed that men possessing masculinity must have ;