Mass male migration to overseas and HIV/AIDS vulnerability
Raj Kumar Subedi, Little Buddha College of Health Sciences, Minbhawan
18 June 2012
Migration is very common in Nepal both within and outside the country. According to Nepal demographic and Health survey 2011, 75% of the houses reported that at least one person had migrated from their house at some time within past 10 years which indicates a high degree of migration. Among them, 72% of them migrated for work. Same report says that about half of the migrants migrated within the country; 20% to India and about one third to other countries besides India with most popular being Malaysia and Middle East. It indicates that a large number of male people fly abroad for seeking jobs. It is so frightening to see that about 41% of male migrants working in Gulf Countries had sex with the paid/unpaid sex partner and about two third had such sex in Non-Gulf countries. If we relate these two information of migration and sexual behavior, we can see how vulnerable they are for HIV AIDS. This is likely to increase the risk of HIV AIDS among the migrant workers as well as their family after they return from work to the country of origin. Furthermore, only 7% were found to have heard and used the Voluntary testing and counseling (VCT) service. Hence, Dahal et al have clearly stated the growing threat of HIV/AIDS among migrant population.This has equally given stress to the growing need of further researches in this regards to explore in detail about migration, sexual behavior, perceived risk and HIV/AIDS vulnerability
References
1)Dahal et al.: Sexual behavior and perceived risk of HIV AIDS among returnee labor migrants from Overseas in Nepal. Retrovirology 2012 9(Suppl 1):P106
2)Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) [Nepal], New ERA, and ICF International Inc. 2012. Nepal
Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, and ICF International, Calverton, Maryland.
Mass male migration to overseas and HIV/AIDS vulnerability
18 June 2012
Migration is very common in Nepal both within and outside the country. According to Nepal demographic and Health survey 2011, 75% of the houses reported that at least one person had migrated from their house at some time within past 10 years which indicates a high degree of migration. Among them, 72% of them migrated for work. Same report says that about half of the migrants migrated within the country; 20% to India and about one third to other countries besides India with most popular being Malaysia and Middle East. It indicates that a large number of male people fly abroad for seeking jobs. It is so frightening to see that about 41% of male migrants working in Gulf Countries had sex with the paid/unpaid sex partner and about two third had such sex in Non-Gulf countries. If we relate these two information of migration and sexual behavior, we can see how vulnerable they are for HIV AIDS. This is likely to increase the risk of HIV AIDS among the migrant workers as well as their family after they return from work to the country of origin. Furthermore, only 7% were found to have heard and used the Voluntary testing and counseling (VCT) service. Hence, Dahal et al have clearly stated the growing threat of HIV/AIDS among migrant population.This has equally given stress to the growing need of further researches in this regards to explore in detail about migration, sexual behavior, perceived risk and HIV/AIDS vulnerability
References
1)Dahal et al.: Sexual behavior and perceived risk of HIV AIDS among returnee labor migrants from Overseas in Nepal. Retrovirology 2012 9(Suppl 1):P106
2)Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) [Nepal], New ERA, and ICF International Inc. 2012. Nepal
Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Kathmandu, Nepal: Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, and ICF International, Calverton, Maryland.
Competing interests
None