Bangkok: Difference between revisions

Bangkok is a massive city, renowned for its nightlife, thriving LGBT community, and international hospitals. Contraception, including emergency contraception, can be cheaply obtained without a prescription at pharmacies. There is a heightened awareness of STDs, which has led to the creation of several STD testing facilities. PrEP is available, with the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic running studies that are set to expand in 2017. LGBT resources are plentiful. Silom is considered the main gay area of Bangkok, especially Soi (lane) 2 and Soi 4.  

However, in some ways the country is not so progressive. Abortion legislation is very restrictive. According to Thai law, women can only receive abortions under special conditions, such as for pregnancies that resulted from rape or incest, or to protect their physical or mental health. Social/economic factors or general choice are not taken into account. However, this law is not strictly enforced, and there are an estimated 15 abortion clinics in Thailand. There is only one known hospital in Bangkok that practices safe abortions with few restrictions –– please see the 'Abortion' section for details.  

In Thailand, you can buy birth control without a prescription. According to the World Health Organization, 79.6% of women from 15 to 49 were using birth control in 2014 <ref>[http://www.searo.who.int/entity/health_situation_trends/data/hsp/thailand_hsp.pdf?ua=1 WHO Health Statistics 2014 Thailand]</ref>. A more detailed 2009 study found that 35% of women were using the pill, 14% were using an injectable method, 0.8% were using IUDs, 2.3% were using condoms, and 23.7% were undergoing sterilization <ref>[http://www.searo.who.int/entity/maternal_reproductive_health/documents/tha-fp.pdf?ua=1 National Statistical Office, Thailand. Key Findings: Reproductive Health Survey. Department of Health, Ministry of Public

Health, Government of Thailand. Bangkok: s.n., 2009 ]</ref>. In the early 1990s, the government heavily campaigned for sex workers to use condoms under the 100% Condom Program. The campaign enjoyed tremendous success at first. However, fallout from the Asian economic crisis of 1997 led to budget cuts that caused funds to be earmarked for treatment rather than prevention. There are calls for government funds to be directed once more to comprehensive prevention plans to combat rising infection rates<ref>[http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/6/10-010610/en/ WHO Bulletin]</ref>.