The national development policies of the past thirty years have led to rapid, but geographically uneven, economic growth. The resulting decline of agriculture and the disintegration of rural society have caused economic hardship and cultural changes. Migration rates have soared as young people move to urban areas in search of jobs that will enable them to send money home to their parents. Thai Buddhist culture stresses the importance of loyalty to parents. Sons can show filial gratitude by becoming monks but no similar spiritual solution exists for daughters.
Tradition demands that they provide for the needs of their parents and families.
Young rural women, newly arrived in the cities, have little access to well-paid employment. Commercial sex work is by far the most lucrative job that a woman with low-level education can find. Thus the epidemic in Thailand is also a development issue. Today many NGO's throughout Thailand are focusing on HIV, attempting to fill the gaps in public services by providing education, counselling and support systems. At the Foundation we recognize that although HIV and AIDS are international problems, the issues surrounding HIV transmission and medical treatment vary across local and national boundaries.