Wolffers I, Fernandez I, Verghis S, Ybanez R, Nguyen Nguyen Nhu T, Mony T, Gomes V; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. WeOrD520.
I. Wolffers, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 108 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tel.: +31 20 444 82 66, Fax: +31 20 444 83 94, E-mail: 100256.1305@compuserve.com
Background:To understand factors that influence behaviour of migrant workers in Southeast Asia that have an impact on their vulnerability for HIV/AIDS. To support their families migrant workers in Asian countries leave their communities and social networks to work in countries where they do not understand the language, do not know how to approach services and often have no access to them, where they form new communities, among others to deal with their need for warmth and sexual needs. It makes them vulnerable for HIV-infection. The hypothesis was that they develop multiple identities: one for at home and one for the host country, with a different behaviour.Methods:In the regional CARAM programme (Co-ordination of action research on AIDS and mobility in Asia), qualitative research was done to understand how migrant workers deal with the changes in their lives, how their sexual behaviour changes and how they become at risk for HIV-infection. Interviews were held with Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia and returned Bangladeshi migrant, with Philippine housemaids in Malaysia and Hong Kong, with Khmer garment factory workers who moved from rural areas to the city, and with Vietnamese migrant workers in Korea. This material is analysed with the ATLAS-TI programme.Results:Many migrant workers appear to live parallel lives in their country of origin and in the host country. In their home countries they want to look like faithful husbands and wives, while in the host country they may behave very differently. These lives are kept completely separate as if it concerns different people. It may even imply different names.Conclusions:Educational messages targeting migrant workers to prevent HIV/AIDS and STDs have to understand who they are talking to. Well designed messages focus on two sides of the identity. The best approach are co-ordinated multi-country approaches, respecting the two sides of the identities of migrants: those they are at home and those they are abroad.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Asia
- Asia, Southeastern
- Demography
- Emigration and Immigration
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hong Kong
- Korea
- Malaysia
- Residence Characteristics
- Sexual Behavior
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Transients and Migrants
Other ID:
UI: 102240762
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