Abstract
HIV risk among Mexican migrants varies across migration phases (pre-departure, transit, destination, interception, and return), but there is limited knowledge about specific sexual behaviors, characteristics of sexual partners, and sexual contexts at different migration stages. To fill the gap, we used data from a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Tijuana, Mexico. Information on migration phase and last sexual encounter was collected from 1219 male migrants. Our findings suggest that compared to pre-departure migrants, repeat migrants returning from communities of origin were more likely to have sex with male partners, use substances before sex, and not use condoms; migrants in the transit phase in the Mexican border were more likely to have sex with casual partners and sex workers; and migrants in the interception phase were more likely to engage in anal sex and use substances before sex. Sexual behaviors, partners, and contexts vary significantly among migrants at different migration phases. Tailored HIV prevention programs targeting Mexican migrants need to be developed and implemented at all migration phases.
Resumen
Investigaciones previas han demostrado que el riesgo de contraer la infección por VIH entre migrantes mexicanos depende de la fase migratoria en que éstos se encuentran (ej. en México antes de migrar, durante el tránsito hacia o desde el Norte, en las comunidades de destino en los Estados Unidos, durante la detención y deportación, y tras retornar a México). Sin embargo, se tiene un conocimiento todavía insuficiente sobre las conductas sexuales específicas, las características de las parejas sexuales, y los contextos en que los migrantes tienen sexo durante estas distintas fases del proceso migratorio. Para cubrir este vacío, se usaron datos de una encuesta poblacional transversal realizada en Tijuana, México. La encuesta recogió información sobre la fase migratoria y los detalles del ultimo encuentro sexual de 1,219 hombres migrantes. Los resultados sugieren que, comparado con la fase que precede a la migración, los migrantes de retorno en sus comunidades de origen presentan una mayor probabilidad de tener sexo con otros hombres, sexo bajo la influencia de las drogas, y sexo sin protección. Los migrantes en la fase de tránsito en la frontera Norte de México presentan mayor probabilidad de tener sexo con parejas esporádicas y sexo servidoras. Los migrantes en la fase deportación reportaron con mayor probabilidad sexo anal y sexo bajo la influencia de las drogas (p < 0.05). Las fases de migración se asocian con distintas conductas sexuales, tipo de parejas, y contextos en los cuales los migrantes practican el sexo. Es preciso desarrollar intervenciones para reducir el riesgo de adquirir el VIH en migrantes mexicanos. Estas intervenciones deben enfocarse en las necesidades especificas de cada una de las fases migratorias.
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Funding
This study was funded by the National Institute of Child and Human Development (Grant R01 HD046886-01A2). The authors also gratefully acknowledge support from the Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, funded by a grant for the NIH/NICHD (P2C HD047873).
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Zhang, X., Rhoads, N., Rangel, M.G. et al. Understanding the Impact of Migration on HIV Risk: An Analysis of Mexican Migrants’ Sexual Practices, Partners, and Contexts by Migration Phase. AIDS Behav 21, 935–948 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1622-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1622-4