Thai people back installation of condom machines at private vocational schools:Poll

BANGKOK, October 20 (TNA) - A recent poll has found that more than half of respondents throughout Thailand supported the installation of condom vending machines in private vocational schools. According to the opinion survey, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) among 1,256 people nationwide from October 17-19, 63.9 per cent of the respondents supported the move. Of them, 36.6 per cent viewed that the move would help reduce teenage pregnancy, 31.9 per cent said it would help prevent sexual transmitted diseases and 17.3 per cent believed it would help promote public knowledge relating to sexuality and safe sexual behaviors. Some 60.1 per cent of the respondents also viewed that more condom machines should be installed at universities, while 39.1 per cent supported more condom machines installed at high schools. As for respondents who were against the move, 78.4 said having condom machines at schools would promote sexual activities among teenagers; while 21.6 per cent viewed it was against the traditional Thai culture. (TNA)