Bangkok: Bangkok city officials have urged young Thais to forgo sex on Valentine's Day and visit temples instead, as a far better way to mark the day of love.
Teenage pregnancy rates In Thailand are one of the highest among its neighboring countries and the move comes as a mean to stop it.
The country also has HIV infection rates among its gay population comparable to those in Africa's AIDS hotspots.
The Valentine's Day celebration of February 14 is a very popular occasion in Thailand. Media surveys show that Thai teenagers prefer to lose their virginity on Valentine's Day.
Worried of teenagers making love on the day, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has urged the youngsters to go fishing, free birds or go to temple. Freeing caged birds is an auspicious Buddhist ritual that is seen as a way to enhance one's karma.
The Buddhist nation attracts a large number of western tourists but still remains a conservative society itself. Bangkok city is famous for gay bars, nightclubs and massage parlours.
The spike in teenage pregnancy has worried the administration that has made 3.5 million condoms available in nearly 80 healthcare centres and hospitals. The health ministry is also planning to install condom vending machines in high schools.
The project was tested in 2010 and was welcomed by students but parents opposed the move out of fear that it would encourage the teenagers to have sex.
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