Factors influencing early sexual initiation among hill tribe youths in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand: A community-based cross-sectional study

A large proportion of hill tribe youths have sexual experience, and one-tenth have experienced early sexual initiation before the age of 15 years. Specific knowledge on sexual education programs should be integrated into the high school study curriculum to protect early sexual initiation behaviors and safe sex, particularly for females. Family- and community-based interventions should also be strongly recommended for the implementation of sexual education training. The curriculum should focus on the impact of substance use and potentially early sexual initiation.