ThaiNGO

Context

Locally grounded, transnationally queer is a multi-sectoral collaboration between the UCL Institute for Global Health, Mahidol Center for Health, Behavior and Society at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, and several clinical and community-based organisations in Thailand. The project is funded by the Wellcome Trust. This post, which is available for 3 years, will work closely with the grant PI Dr Charles Witzel and lead quantitative analysis on a large online survey with two follow-up periods. As such, the successful applicant will have experience of advanced statistical analysis methods, ideally with longitudinal datasets and/or using latent class analysis. They will also have enthusiasm for working with GBMSM engaged in sexualised drug use, and be proficient in both Thai and English.

Project outline

Sexualised drug use (SDU) refers to using drugs before/during sex. ‘Hi-fun‘ in Thailand (‘chemsex’ in Western settings) is the intentional use of specific substances (for example, methamphetamine) to prolong sex with multiple partners. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men’s (GBMSM) sexualised drug use is a global public health concern because of potential negative impacts on wellbeing, mental and sexual health.

GBMSM sexualised drug use is increasingly visible in Thailand, where unique sociocultural/political environments shape sexual cultures and harms. Research investigating the diversity of sexualised drug use practices, who experiences which harms and which groups might benefit from support is urgently required.

Key project activities include focus groups exploring boundaries between hi-fun and other sexualised drug use. Systematic mapping will identify potential interventions. Online surveys of GBMSM engaged in sexualised drug use (n=1000 ) will examine behavioural patterns, harms and intervention acceptability. In-depth interviews and diaries will explore sexualised drug use accounts. Data will be interwoven with survey latent class analysis, producing mixed methods grounded theory, informed by transnational queer sociology, exploring how economic growth, globalisation, criminalisation and pleasure shape sexualised drug use cultures. Finally, workshops will synthesise findings with the COM-B model of behaviour change, co-developing a care framework supporting service provision.

This interdisciplinary multi-method research will transform understandings of how social and economic forces shape sexualised drug use cultures and co-develop innovative support strategies for GBMSM engaged in sexualised drug use in Thailand.

A. Scope of Work

1. Survey design and implementation

• Lead survey construction including all relevant survey logic using Alchemer survey software.
• Contribute to survey piloting and proactively identify potential issues with survey design and construction
• Monitor recruitment during pilot phase and full implementation ensuring survey infrastructure functions as designed.

2. Ethical Approval & Documentation

• Support applications for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, including amendments, reports, and renewals as needed
• Maintain proper documentation and records related to ethical approval

3. Fieldwork & Data Collection

• Contribute to recruitment for both quantitative and qualitative studies (e.g., surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions)
• Keep records, in partnership with the study coordinator, of recruitment campaigns and key metrics (e.g. reach, cost, conversion rate)
• Protect participant confidentiality at all times

4. Research Tool Development

• Assist in designing and developing research instruments in collaboration with the research team and the PI
• Participate in testing and refining research tools to align with the project’s context and aims

5. Data Analysis & Reporting

• Lead on analysis of quantitative data, including longitudinal and latent class analysis
• Support the preparation of project reports, academic articles, and research summaries including as lead author

7. Academic & Networking Engagement

• Participate in and present research findings at academic conferences at local, national, and international levels
• Establish and maintain academic collaborations with local and international research networks

8. Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the PI, Dr Charles Witzel