Public Health
Volume 164, 2018, Pages 49-56

Vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection among migrants in the Thane district, India (Article)

Chowdhury D. , Saravanamurthy P.S. , Chakrabartty A.* , Purohit S. , Iyer S.S. , Agarwal A. , Gopal K.M. , Mishra P.
  • a Public Health Foundation of India, PIPPSE, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurgaon, 122002, India
  • b Public Health Foundation of India, PIPPSE, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurgaon, 122002, India
  • c Health Vision and Research, 333A/1-Jessore Road, Kolkata, 700 089, India
  • d Public Health Foundation of India, PIPPSE, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurgaon, 122002, India
  • e Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), V.N.Purav Marg, Deonar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400088, India
  • f Public Health Foundation of India, PIPPSE, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurgaon, 122002, India
  • g National Migration Unit (NMU), National AIDS Control Organisation, 36 Janpath Rd, Delhi, 110001, India
  • h Public Health Foundation of India, PIPPSE, Plot 47, Sector 44, Gurgaon, 122002, India

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection among female migrants compared with male migrants in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India. Study design: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study. Methods: Data from 35,841 migrants (men 96.2% and women 3.8%) were collected using the web-based ‘Migrant Service Delivery System.’ The data were then analysed in SPSS, version 23.0. Statistical analysis, including Chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression, was used to identify factors influencing HIV infection for both male and female migrants. Results: It was observed that 2.96% of female migrants had HIV infection compared with 0.77% of male migrants. We found that 12.1% of women consumed alcohol compared with 41.9% of men, and access to bars was 1.5% among women and 3.5% in men. We observed an even larger difference between men and women in their previous history of using brothels for sex; only 5.9% of female migrants reported previously having used brothels for sex, compared with 62.9% of male migrants. Approximately 12.3% of married women and 93.6% of married men had sex with someone other than their spouse. We found that 67.0% of married women and 73.9% of married men reported using a condom during their last sexual act compared with 60.9% of unmarried women and 68.1% of unmarried men. Conclusions: In Thane, female migrants faced higher vulnerabilities and risks of HIV infection than male migrants. Consequently, innovative strategies are required to address these particular needs of female migrants. © 2018 The Royal Society for Public Health

Author Keywords

Migrants Risk HIV Vulnerability Female

Index Keywords

Vulnerable Populations vulnerable population immigrant HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection India single woman alcohol consumption chi square test married man married woman health risk multivariate logistic regression analysis infectious disease Maharashtra sex ratio human Thane sex difference middle aged single man statistics and numerical data controlled study Human immunodeficiency virus Cross-Sectional Studies condom use Young Adult cross-sectional study migrant Humans Adolescent male female Socioeconomic Factors spouse risk factor Risk Factors socioeconomics vulnerability Article major clinical study adult migration infection risk sexual intercourse Transients and Migrants womens health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052734149&doi=10.1016%2fj.puhe.2018.07.019&partnerID=40&md5=416d44cc783d146f192d9429d29a1adc
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.07.019
ISSN: 00333506
Original Language: English