Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services
Volume 11, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 105-124

Does Powerlessness Explain Elevated HIV Risk Among Tajik Labor Migrants? An Ethnographic Study (Article)

Luo J. , Weine S.* , Bahromov M. , Golobof A.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine, 1601 W. Taylor St., Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine, 1601 W. Taylor St., Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
  • c Prisma Research Center, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
  • d Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine, 1601 W. Taylor St., Fifth Floor, Chicago, IL 60612, United States

Abstract

To investigate the role of powerlessness in elevated HIV risk among labor migrants, we compared internal verses external male migrant workers from Tajikistan using minimally structured interviews and focused field observations. The sample included 30 male labor migrants who traveled to work in Regar, Tajikistan (internal labor migrants), and 30 who travelled to work in Moscow, Russia (external labor migrants). Though powerlessness did not appear to account for whether labor migrants engaged in more HIV risk behaviors, the harsh living and working conditions of external labor migration impacted how the migrants manifested these HIV risks by amplifying group masculine norms and behaviors. Progress in preventing HIV infection amid the difficult social conditions of labor migration is contingent upon adequate conceptualization of how such conditions impact HIV risk behaviors. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Tajikistan Migration trains Moscow HIV transmission Sexual behavior Ethnography

Index Keywords

labor migration Moscow [Russian Federation] sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus health risk Tajikistan Russian Federation conceptual framework
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861961982&doi=10.1080%2f15381501.2012.678114&partnerID=40&md5=cfa317aeec2ba79a03b8b9059eaf3ea6
DOI: 10.1080/15381501.2012.678114
ISSN: 15381501
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English