AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 21, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 683-691

Disassortative sexual mixing among migrant populations in the Netherlands: A potential for HIV/STI transmission? (Article)

Van Veen M.G. , Kramer M.A. , Op De Coul E.L.M. , Van Leeuwen A.P. , De Zwart O. , Van De Laar M.J.W. , Coutinho R.A. , Prins M.
  • a Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
  • b Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
  • c Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
  • d Municipal Health Service, The Hague, Netherlands
  • e Municipal Public Health Service, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Netherlands
  • f Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
  • g Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • h Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Health Service, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

To gain insight into the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) among large migrant groups in the Netherlands, we studied the associations between their demographic and sexual characteristics, in particular condom use, and their sexual mixing patterns with other ethnic groups. In 2002-2005, cross-sectional surveys were conducted among migrants from Surinam (Afro- and Hindo-), the Netherlands Antilles, Cape Verde, and Ghana at social venues in three large cities. A questionnaire was administrated and a saliva sample was collected for HIV antibody testing. Of 2105 migrants recruited, 1680 reported sexual contacts, of whom 41% mixed sexually with other ethnicities, including the indigenous Dutch population. Such disassortative mixing was associated with being second-generation migrant, having several sexual partners, and having a steady and concurrent casual partner. Less disassortative mixing occurred in participants reporting visiting the country of origin. The association between condom use and sexual mixing differed by gender, with men using condoms inconsistently being most likely to be mixing with the Dutch indigenous population. HIV infection and recent STI treatment were not associated with disassortative mixing. This study shows substantial sexual mixing among migrant groups. Since disassortative mixing is more prevalent in second-generation migrants, it might increase in the upcoming years. The mixing patterns in relation to concurrency and the reported condom use in this study suggest a possibly increased level of HIV/STI transmission not only within migrant groups but also between migrant groups, especially via men who mix with the indigenous population and via migrant women who mix with non-Dutch casual partners. Although the observed HIV prevalence in migrants (0.6%) is probably too low to lead to much HIV transmission between ethnicity groups, targeted prevention measures are needed to prevent transmission of other STI.

Author Keywords

Sexual mixing Migrants Netherlands Concurrency

Index Keywords

Netherlands HIV Infections sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection demography Cape Verde human sexuality Sexual Partners Ethnic Groups condom Condoms ethnic group priority journal Ghana controlled study Urban Health Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence sexually transmitted disease Cross-Sectional Studies Sexually Transmitted Diseases cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent Suriname male Human immunodeficiency virus antibody female questionnaire Article disease transmission major clinical study adult ethnicity Transients and Migrants saliva analysis Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70449625308&doi=10.1080%2f09540120802511984&partnerID=40&md5=71d8885c2263dee0c82a2f63157d1b86
DOI: 10.1080/09540120802511984
ISSN: 09540121
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English