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Dealing with the tough stuff

— This lesson was prepared by Maureen Paetkau, a professional teacher of English as a second and foreign language. Check out her lessons on Bangkok Post.

INTRODUCTION

Talking about sexuality and sexual behaviour is not easy in many cultures, and certainly difficult in Thai society. However, the reality of AIDS infection makes it a topic everyone must face. It is also an issue that young people have information, opinions and feelings about.


Here's what to do:

Here's what to do: Write some questions — about 8-10 is probably enough — to find out what people think about the facts and opinions expressed in two recent news stories.

As you read the stories you should underline the important facts and opinions expressed by various people and the reasons for their opinions.

Then write questions to ask people in your community, for example, Agree/Disagree questions. Here's a yes/no question based on information in the first story: "The National Aids Prevention and Control Commission placed condom machines in public places. Do you think that will promote the use of condoms?"

You can also check what people believe by using T/F statements based on information in the story. Another way is by giving choices: "According to the Public Health Ministry, the number of Aids patients in 2001 was a) 106,000; b) 55,000; c) 281,000; d) 234,000."

hen go out and find out what people think. Bring your results back to ESL Monkeys Student's Forum and make a chart of the opinions you gathered.

OUR STORIES FROM THE BANGKOK POST

Agencies opposed to condom machines

Fears of promoting sex among youth

Aphaluck Bhatiasevi

A plan to place condom vending machines in public places faces opposition from government agencies worried this could provoke sexual promiscuity .

Several vending machines placed in the provinces have been removed by local police on grounds that they were inappropriate, according to the National Aids Prevention and Control Commission.

Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, who is commission chairman, pointed to the lack of understanding among many state authorities as the main problem leading to lack of cooperation. "They think these machines promote the use of condoms," he said.

Though the commission agreed months ago that such vending machines should be placed in public places, little progress had been made due to lack of understanding. He urged people "to change their attitude and perception in dealing with problems concerning Aids".

The increased incidence of casual sex among unmarried couples had prompted the commission to make access to condoms easier in public places.

Thailand had 281,000 Aids patients in 2001, according to the Public Health Ministry.

The commission believed condom use was low among casual sex partners because of lack of access, and most people were reluctant to go out of their way to purchase condoms. Easy access would hopefully increase its use.

Under the commission's plan, condom vending machines should be placed in public areas like entertainment places, apartments, educational institutions, factories, hotels and department stores in Bangkok and other parts of the country.

Informed sources said the Interior Ministry felt that placing such vending machines would go against the government's social order crusade aimed at disciplining entertainment places.

The Education Ministry was against placing the machines because it feared this would promote sexual activity among the youth.

provoke : to cause something to happen

promiscuity : having many sexual partners

promote : to help something happen

incidence : the amount that happens

prompted : encouraged some action

alarming : shocking and troubling

Infection rate for teens rises

Sudarat lauds 0.1% drop for mums-to-be

The rate of HIV infection among pregnant women fell by 0.1% in 2002 as parents adopted a greater degree of responsibility in practising prevention measures, Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said.

However, figures for the young revealed an alarming trend, as infection rates among teenagers jumped.

Charan Treunwuthipong, of the Communicable Diseases Control Department, said studies had revealed less than half of the country's sexually active teenagers used condoms.

He said the agency would particularly target youths in this year's Aids-prevention campaign, under which 26 million condoms would be handed out.

Ms Sudarat said an infection rate of 1.2% among mothers-to-be last year represented one of the world's lowest figures for this group. "This is a good sign," she said. "This shows our family institution has grown stronger."

alarming : shocking and troubling

 
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