Leyva R, Gonzalez T, Caballero M, Dreser A, Bronfman M; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. WePeG6970.
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Mexico
BACKGROUND: Hidalgo City, Mexico, and Tecun Uman, Guatemala are border stations for migrating and mobile populations, with a high inter-border mobility associated with work and commerce. This analysis forms part of the Project on Mobile Populations and HIV/AIDS in Central America, Mexico and the United States. The objective is to analyze the social response to migration and HIV/AIDS in twin cities on the Mexico-Guatemala border. METHODS: In January/February 2001, a survey of the local population was conducted, where in-depth interviews took place with key and general informers, mobile populations, commercial sex workers and government and non-government organizations. RESULTS: In both cities, mobile and migrant populations are attributed with violence, insecurity, prostitutions and AIDS. The majority of undocumented female migrants experience sexual relations as a means to continue their migratory process, to the extent of becoming rape victims. Most of the commercial sex workers are from other countries, undocumented, and are considered to be HIV transmitters. Even though the local population is well informed about HIV transmission, beliefs exist that promote social rejection to PLWAs. There are network organizations in Tecun Uman that direct their attention to mobile populations and HIV/AIDS, which include the Migrant House, Human Rights Office, House for Women (Sex Workers and female migrants), the Church Clinic, community HIV/AIDS prevention projects, and the public Health Center, for sexual workers' health control. In Hidalgo City, there are no social organizations, however there is inter-border experience in controlling health problems (malaria, cholera, others).CONCLUSIONS: The network of social organizations identified in Tecun Uman constitute a response model to the complex problems of migration and AIDS and is thus proposed as the basis for developing an inter-border system for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in mobile and migrating populations.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Central America
- Cities
- Demography
- Emigration and Immigration
- Female
- Guatemala
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Mexico
- Population
- Prostitution
- Research
- Sexual Behavior
- Transients and Migrants
- United States
Other ID:
UI: 102252849
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