US Funding to study HIV/Kathoeys/GG

[Socrates999]

Posted in academia, but maybe should be moved to a general section for a wider look.

Study of social factors leading to risky sex by sex worker LBs and GGs.

Interesting bit. I don't know what study is mentioned here, but 1 in 6 HIV+ kathoey is a bit sobering. Posted in academia, but maybe should be moved to a general section for a wider look.:

"Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed collaboration study between Ms. Usaneya Perngparn, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and Dr. Nemoto, Public Health Institute, California, will investigate the sociocultural contexts of HIV risk behaviors and drug use among Thai female and male-to-female transgender (kathoey) sex workers in Bangkok. The national campaign of 100% condom use implemented in 1989 has been successful in reducing new HIV/STIs. However, recent studies indicated low levels of consistent condom use among sexually active young men and women and high HIV sero-prevalence rates among high risk populations, such as direct female sex workers, drug users, MSM, and male and kathoey sex workers. In Thailand, kathoey have been historically accepted because of the karmic idea in Buddhism. Currently, many kathoey engage in sex work. A recent study reported high HIV sero-prevalence rates among kathoey, particularly those who had engaged in sex work (17%)."

Abstract of Proposal

[jadeite]

This looks like it could be the same study reported on Fox News:

NIH Spends $178,000 to Study Why Prostitutes in Thailand Have High HIV Risk

The federal government is spending $178,000 to better understand why drug-abusing prostitutes in Thailand are at greater risk for HIV infection, an endeavor taxpayer watchdogs are calling a huge waste of American taxpayers' money.

The National Institutes of Health study, "Substance Use and HIV Risk among Thai Women," is looking at the interplay of personal and cultural factors that put Thai prostitutes at special risk.

But women aren't its only target. The two-year project, made possible by a grant from the NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse, is also studying kathoey, the transgender prostitutes who are widely accepted in Thailand because of the "karmic idea in Buddhism," and who have especially high HIV infection rates, according to the study's abstract.

Researchers plan to interview 60 sex workers -- 36 women and 24 kathoey -- to understand the factors that make the prostitutes susceptible to HIV, including economic pressure, sex-change operations, their heavy use of drugs and a Buddhist fatalism that keeps them feeling resigned to their fate.

The NIH funds many studies that focus on HIV risk and prevention in hopes that it can lay the vital groundwork for developing treatment and intervention plans to thwart the deadly AIDS virus.

But government watchdogs are having a hard time understanding why American tax dollars should go to study the sexual habits of prostitutes halfway around the world.

"This really is a complete waste of money and should not be funded by the taxpayer," said David Williams, vice president for policy at Citizens Against Government Waste, which tracks wasteful spending in the federal budget.

Williams lauded the NIH for funding life-saving research in many areas, but he said this study goes way beyond the pale. The project began April 15 -- Tax Day in the U.S. -- which the government waste watcher found especially galling.

"It really boggles the mind to think that this is what NIH is studying," Williams told FOXNews.com.

Attempts to reach the study's director by phone and e-mail were unsuccessful, and the NIH did not respond to requests for comment.

Among the specific aims of the study are to "understand substance use and HIV risk behaviors among female and kathoey sex workers" and to help pave the way for new HIV prevention studies in Thailand, a nation of 66 million that has a relatively high rate of HIV infection. The United Nations estimates that nearly 1 percent of Thailand's population is infected with the virus -- nearly three times the rate in the U.S.

The new program is one of a slew of efforts by the NIH to combat the virus, which has been fast spreading in East Asia, where it is passed on primarily through unprotected sex.

The NIH spends $29 billion each year to help fund thousands of health studies, including many overseas initiatives. Among those projects are a $400,000 study being conducted in bars in Buenos Aires to find out why gay men engage in risky sexual behavior while drunk, and a $2.6 million study dedicated to teaching prostitutes in China to drink less while having sex on the job.

While some active NIH projects -- such as studies of suicide patterns among young men and women in China -- have a clearer relevance for communities living in the U.S., the utility of this study for U.S. citizens is not as clear-cut.

The abstract indicates that it is intended to create prevention models specifically tailored to the "sociocultural factors specific to female and kathoey sex workers" in Thailand.

"We don't have an infinite number of tax dollars to work with here, and the ones that we do pay should go to benefit the research in this country," said Williams, who faulted the government for piling on programs during an economic crisis.

"The first thing to really look at is how it is going to directly impact the citizens of this country, because we are the ones paying for this research."

[jimslim]

(jadeite @ May 21 2009,20:49) a Buddhist fatalism that keeps them feeling resigned to their fate.

Could be on to something there .

[Torurot]

>>The national campaign of 100% condom use implemented in 1989 has been successful in reducing new HIV/STIs>>

Back then it WAS a national campaign and had Dr Condom of Cabbages and Condoms fame as the front men. Dr Condom. Condoms were dished out FREE all over the place. That was 20 years ago, and now an entirely new generation (could even be children of the last lot) know NOTHING about using condoms. Where's the current campaign? Where's the free condoms in bars? How many times have you been in the room and your company has NO CONDOMS in her expensive purse. Fck Sake!!!! No wonder the rate in the current lot is so high. Don't play with loaded guns!

[batman4ever]

 

aint it our own responsibility to always carry condoms?

FFS...that and ky is the first items i buy when landed in LOS,,,,

[thaibound]

(jadeite @ May 21 2009,06:49) While some active NIH projects -- such as studies of suicide patterns among young men and women in China -- have a clearer relevance for communities living in the U.S., the utility of this study for U.S. citizens is not as clear-cut.

"The first thing to really look at is how it is going to directly impact the citizens of this country, because we are the ones paying for this research."

he sees *no* relevance?

so this guy knows *nobody* who mongers in thailand?
no "fellow americans" at all?
no cheating hubbies screwing ts's/ladyboys/prostitutes on the down low?
no reason to worry they might bring something home?
really??

i guess his crowd is more the type to stay home alone, listen to nirvana and sniff glue til they feel compelled to slit their wrists.

[manarak]

(jimslim @ May 22 2009,04:33)

(jadeite @ May 21 2009,20:49) a Buddhist fatalism that keeps them feeling resigned to their fate.

Could be on to something there .

I think that's spot-on.

People who don't like posts written by some pretentious know-it-alls should not read the rest of this post.

Buddhist karma or fatalism is one of the reasons for the great tolerance in thai society. Ladyboys are able to live the life of a ladyboy for that same reason.

Many feel guilty of being a ladyboy, they are afraid of not having fulfilled their parent's expectations, will do anything to earn (back) the respect of their parents by sending them all the money they can...

They live the life of the ladyboy, yet they all know the answer to the question that is sometimes asked on the forums "where do old ladyboys go" ?
Short answer: they become ugly and go back to their village, where they await their death.
They know this, yet they live on. Karma. If karma decides that they be ill with HIV and die (earlier), so be it... Maybe their next life will be better.