Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 23, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 1733-1749

U.S. drug use and migration experiences of Mexican female sex workers who are injection drug users (Article)

Ojeda V.D. , Burgos J.L. , Rangel M.G. , Lozada R. , Vera A.
  • a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, University of California, United States
  • b Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, University of California, United States
  • c El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Carretera Escénica Tijuana-Ensenada, Tijuana, Mexico
  • d PREVENCASA, Tijuana, Mexico
  • e Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, University of California, United States

Abstract

Objective. To describe U.S.-based drug/sex behaviors and correlates of lifetime U.S. drug use by Mexican female sex workers who inject drugs (FSW-IDUs). Methods. Between 2008-2010, 315 migrant FSW-IDUs residing in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico responded to questionnaires. Results. Twenty-seven percent (n=85) of FSW-IDUs were U.S. migrants; of these, 46% (n=39) were deportees. One-half of U.S.-migrant FSW-IDUs consumed illicit drugs in the U.S., and two-thirds of these injected drugs in the U.S. Among U.S. injectors, over 75% ever received or shared used injection equipment. The majority (92%) of U.S.-migrant FSW-IDUs never obtained U.S. drug treatment services. HIV prevalence was 4% among U.S.-migrant and 5% among non-U.S. migrant FSW-IDUs; 100% of U.S.-migrant and 75% of non-U.S. migrant FSW-IDUs were unaware of their HIV status. Conclusions. Binational coordination to improve access to substance use treatment and HIV testing services in Mexico and the U.S. among marginalized binational migrants may be critical to containing HIV transmission. © Meharry Medical College.

Author Keywords

Migration Sexual behaviors HIV United States Drug use Female sex workers Mexico

Index Keywords

HIV Infections Human immunodeficiency virus infection psychological aspect human statistics Substance-Related Disorders substance abuse ethnology Mexico United States Humans Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire prostitution prevalence Article Substance Abuse, Intravenous Questionnaires adult migration Sex Workers addiction
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84871262596&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2012.0177&partnerID=40&md5=73d1ecae75306c8977c7aacc5122aafe
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2012.0177
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English