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HIV Prevalence Among Central American Migrants in Transit Through Mexico to the USA, 2009–2013

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Abstract

HIV prevalence was estimated among migrants in transit through Mexico. Data were collected on 9108 Central American migrants during a cross-sectional study performed in seven migrant shelters from 2009 to 2013. Considerations focused on their sociodemographic characteristics, sexual and reproductive health, and experience with violence. Based on a sample of 46.6 % of respondents who agreed to be HIV tested, prevalence of the virus among migrants came to 0.71 %, reflecting the concentrated epidemic in their countries of origin. A descriptive analysis was performed according to gender: the distribution of the epidemic peaked at 3.45 % in the transvestite, transgender and transsexual (TTT) population, but fell to less than 1 % in men and women. This gender differential is characteristic of the epidemic in Central America. Furthermore, 23.5 % of TTTs and 5.8 % of women experienced sexual violence. The predominant impact of sexual violence on TTTs and women will influence the course of the AIDS epidemic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Mexico, Mexico

    René Leyva-Flores, César Infante, Edson Servan-Mori & Omar Silverman-Retana

  2. Mexico City Autonomous University (UACM), Mexico, Mexico

    Frida Quintino-Pérez

  3. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México. Av. Universidad 655, C.P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    César Infante

Authors
  1. René Leyva-Flores
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  2. César Infante
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  3. Edson Servan-Mori
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  4. Frida Quintino-Pérez
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  5. Omar Silverman-Retana
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Correspondence to César Infante.

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Leyva-Flores, R., Infante, C., Servan-Mori, E. et al. HIV Prevalence Among Central American Migrants in Transit Through Mexico to the USA, 2009–2013. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 1482–1488 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0268-z

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