Girls in Thailand

Book Description
Objectives: This book examined the decision making process and health seeking patterns of low-income young women with unplanned pregnancies who opted for abortion, putting baby up for adoption, or keeping the baby. Methods: Research methodology in this book focused on formative research utilising qualitative data. The study was conducted covering all five shelters and low-income communities in Bangkok, Thailand. The data collection was through Focus Group Discussions, and in-depth interview. Forty-five cases were purposively recruited into the study. The data were analysed using content analysis. Results: From the qualitative research, the results indicated that the majority of the young women tended to select abortion as their first choice, while a few cases continued their pregnancies to term without any attempt to terminate the pregnancy. These women tended to delay seeking assistance once they found out their pregnancy situation. Majority of the low-income young women were more likely to resort self-medication as their first alternative, which was sometimes hazardous to their health. Decision on self-medication or abortions with unskilled personnel sometimes resulted in serious and life-threatening complications. Many pregnancy-termination situations resulted from self-medication.

Book Description
For several years, Thai women have been well on their way to becoming international celebrities. The cheerful attitude, the graceful movement, the charming smile, the gentle nature, the lovely figure, the total lack of self-pity. All this and more seems to have combined into a Siamese bewitchment captivating men of almost every nationality. For many, the mention of Thai women conjures up the stereotype of unbridled sensuality in the lush Tropics. But in pictures and in text, Thailand: Land of Beautiful Women attempts to delve deeper into the reasons for their phenomenal popularity.

The author concludes that, from classical dancers to construction workers, from go-go dancers to rice farmers, their charm is far more than merely physical. Thai cultural values and the teachings of the Buddhist religion have endowed the women of Thailand with confidence, grace and intelligence.

Their attraction involves a vivaciousness, a well-developed sense of humor, and, perhaps, above all, the intelligence to deal with life’s problems while maintaining an almost childlike ability to delight in living. In other words, an attitude toward life which understands that life is meant to be enjoyed.