Perilaku Seksual Berisiko Tertular PMS Dan HIV AIDS

This study is intended to find out the attitude and sexual behavior of long distance (inter provincial) truck drivers, along the North Java coastal route, with the use of 50 drivers as respondents for analysis. They are generally drivers of trucks dispatched from Jakarta and Bekasi.

This study uses three types of instruments (i) questionnaires, (ii) guided interviews, and (iii) observation to gather two types of data. First, structured data was derived through questionnaires. Second, qualitative data was gathered through detailed interviews and observations. These data was then analyzed descriptively.

Results of this study indicate that; first, high mobility and challenges that truck drivers often encounter during their travel tempts them to look for recreation places. A situation of this nature offers a very high possibility for them to have sexual relationship outside marriage since they are far away from their families. Most of the respondents (92%) confess that they have ever had a sexual affair during the journey. Young respondents who are not yet married portray a higher frequency of sexual relationship during the journey.

Second, there is an indication of unhealthy sexual conduct among the respondents like;

1. a high degree of premarital sexual relationship
2. a high frequency of sexual affairs outside marriage
3. possession of many sexual partners
4. never use condoms
5. association with partners whose health conditions can not be guaranteed
6. having very many other activities after sexual intercourse.

Third, this kind of unhealthy sexual behavior also increases the possibility of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the respondents. This study found out that half (50%) of the respondents have ever been victims of infection. This figure is high compared with a similar figure from the entire community.

Fourth, there is still a misperception about STDs and AIDS which is vividly evident from their understanding that; (i) STD can only be transmitted from a man to a woman and not the reverse; (ii) AIDS can not reach truck drivers because it is sickness for the upper social class in society; (iii) AIDS is a curse.

Fifth, there is an urgent need to take preventive measures against STDs and HIV/AIDS among truck drivers. The traditional mono directional approach is not enough to achieve this, rather there is need to involve the entire community and their families through an intensive two-way communication