Southern Medical Journal
Volume 84, Issue 9, 1991, Pages 1088-1090

HIV-related characteristics of migrant workers in rural South Carolina (Article)

Jones J.L.* , Rion P. , Hollis S. , Longshore S. , Leverette W.B. , Ziff L.
  • a South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States
  • b South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States
  • c South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States
  • d South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States
  • e South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States
  • f South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia and Greenwood, Columbia, SC, United States

Abstract

After finding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a migrant worker named as a syphilis contact, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control offered HIV counseling and testing and syphilis screening to migrant workers in the surrounding two-county area. In addition, a brief questionnaire was administered to document demographics and risk behavior. Of the 265 workers aged 16 and older in 15 migrant camps, 198 (75%) consented to the survey and testing. Of the 198 tested, 85% were male and 75% single. The median age was 39, with a range of 16 to 69 years. Twenty-five (13%) were HIV antibody positive, and 32 (16%) had reactive serologic tests for syphilis. Of the 166 workers who reported the frequency of condom use, 77 (46%) indicated they never use condoms. We conclude that there is a relatively high rate of HIV infection in these rural South Carolina migrant workers, whose behavior puts them at risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. © 1991 Southern Medical Association.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

rural area HIV Seroprevalence sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection human Agriculture priority journal Negroid Race Aged rural health HIV Seropositivity Syphilis Serodiagnosis migrant worker Adolescent male Sex Behavior female Syphilis Article South Carolina adult infection risk Transients and Migrants Middle Age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0026048187&doi=10.1097%2f00007611-199109000-00007&partnerID=40&md5=56c2c661eb6e4cea7a6122f9791a8213
DOI: 10.1097/00007611-199109000-00007
ISSN: 00384348
Cited by: 30
Original Language: English