Thailand: Rule Change Would Allow Under 18s Easier Access to HIV Testing

Thailand's Medical Council is considering a policy change that would make it easier for persons under age 18 to access HIV counseling and testing.

Current regulation requires that a parent or guardian give consent for a young person to receive medical care, and those seeking HIV testing must first show they have been given permission. This is problematic, since many teens fear having their parents know about their sexual activities, said Kittiphan Kanjina, director of the Thai Youth Network on HIV/AIDS.

"It is important for [youths] to have HIV testing so they can evaluate for themselves the risk factor associated with HIV infection, and [if necessary] prepare themselves for early treatment," Kanjina said. In a recent survey of 2,000 Thai teens, about 70 percent said they would not tell their parents they had been tested for HIV, regardless of the result.

The proposed change has been endorsed by Dr. Praphan Panuphak, director of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center. A hearing on the topic was being held Wednesday.

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