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CULTURAL CHANGE

Most Thais now live in cities, busy urban areas

Thailand is bracing for a ''third population explosion'', a term referring to a phenomenon in which more than half the country's population, or about 32 million people, live in the cities and urban areas, a research study has found. The phenomenon has led to change in sexual behaviour, particularly in women in urban areas as many live more independently and are more open to sex, according to the study.

Pramote Prasartkul, a demographer attached to Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research, said the findings go against a traditional belief that most people live in rural areas. The trend, he said, is in line with a United Nations prediction that by 2008 more than half of the world's population will live in urban areas.

According to Dr Pramote, the urban population covers people who live in cities without transferring their house registration, and commuters.

He said urban growth should raise alarm about potential impacts on various issues including environment, quality of living, and crime.

Researcher Orathai Rucharoenpornpanich, who studied impact of urban growth on sexual behaviour, said women who live in urban areas tend to be more open to sex. She said there is no significant difference between sexual behaviour of men in urban and rural areas.

About 40% of single women living in Bangkok have sexual relationships and the number is 1.2 times higher than in the urban areas in the provinces and 3.3 times higher than those in rural areas, Ms Orathai said.

The findings also show higher cohabitation and higher divorce rates among people living in cities, she added.

''For cohabitation, women in Bangkok are educated and independent, so they do not see the need to commit themselves to marriage. Having several boyfriends is fine and spices up their lives,'' said Ms Orathai.

Her research work, Sex in the City, will be presented at a seminar, entitled Nakaratpiwat and Withee Cheewit Muang, to be held by the institute next Friday.

The researchers say the government should be aware of the change, and design a better HIV/Aids prevention scheme to cope.

''An HIV/Aids control unit exists only in Bangkok, but other big cities like Chiang Mai also need one,'' said Apichart Chamrasritthirong.

He said a stiff conservative social order may no longer be appropriate, given the change.

''For instance, we may have to admit the fact that condoms should be handed out in education outlets to combat HIV/Aids,'' he said.

Bangkok Post