Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 13, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 919-928

Male labor migrants in Russia: HIV risk behavior levels, contextual factors, and prevention needs (Article)

Amirkhanian Y.A.* , Kuznetsova A.V. , Kelly J.A. , DiFranceisco W.J. , Musatov V.B. , Avsukevich N.A. , Chaika N.A. , McAuliffe T.L.
  • a Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States, Interdisciplinary Center for AIDS Research and Training (ICART), St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • b Interdisciplinary Center for AIDS Research and Training (ICART), St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • c Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States
  • d Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States
  • e Municipal Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases Named after S.P. Botkin, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • f Municipal Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases Named after S.P. Botkin, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • g Pasteur Institute, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • h Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States

Abstract

Although the dire life circumstances of labor migrants working in Russia are well-known, their HIV risk vulnerability and prevention needs are understudied. Low socioeconomic status, lack of access to services, separation from family, and limited risk awareness all contribute to migrants' HIV vulnerability. Male labor migrants in St. Petersburg (n = 499) were administered assessments of their sexual behavior practices, substance use, and psychosocial characteristics related to risk and well-being. Thirty percent of migrants reported multiple female partners in the past 3 months. Condom use was low, ranging from 35% with permanent to 52% with casual partners. Central Asian migrants had very low AIDS knowledge, low levels of substance use, moderate sexual risk, high depression, and poor social supports. Eastern European migrants had higher AIDS knowledge, alcohol and drug use, and sexual risk. Improved HIV prevention efforts are needed to reduce the risk vulnerability of migrants who relocate to high disease prevalence areas. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.

Author Keywords

Russia HIV/AIDS Psychosocial risk factors HIV risk behavior Labor migrants

Index Keywords

Russia HIV Infections sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection psychological aspect human Health Behavior Asia health service ethnology Health Services Needs and Demand Humans male Article high risk behavior Risk-Taking adult migration Transients and Migrants Russian Federation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-81355139707&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-010-9376-y&partnerID=40&md5=2ccbdde7e7214092a6b0eb147394e5e1
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-010-9376-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 38
Original Language: English