Hope, paradox and the politics of suspicion: confronting latter-day AIDS in Thailand

This paper briefly describes three arenas where AIDS remains an issue of complicated importance in the everyday lives of the people in Thailand. These arenas include prevention, surveillance, and care. It is noted that casual sex is more widespread in Thailand and the marked distinction between commercial and noncommercial sex has been less obvious. This leads to more difficulty in applying preventive measures such as the use of condoms. However, forthright and committed prevention policies have been implemented to counter the situation. In terms of surveillance, it has been recorded that the government has progressively enacted policies that guarantee anonymity to those affected by HIV. Nevertheless, prejudice and stigma have not disappeared in the wake of such civil approaches. Finally, in the context of care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA), records indicate the rise of PLWA support groups. The mobilization of these groups has become the backbone of community-level government and nongovernment operations to help those with HIV.