Pre- Migration or Post-Migration Factors: Which Ones Account for Migrants’ Sexual Risk-Taking Behavior?

Macoumba Thiam, University of Montreal

RESEARCH TOPIC: The process of migration is well known to be associated with substantial change in sexual behaviors towards an uprising of risk-taking. The migrants’ characteristics before and after their move as well as contact with a new and more permissive social environment have been pointed out as being responsible for these changes (Brockerhoff and Biddlecom, 1998). However, the respective magnitude of the impact of each of these characteristics on the sexual behavior change was seldom studied. Yet understanding these differences is crucial in designing and implementing effective HIV prevention programs that target migrant groups. This paper is aimed at assessing the inter-relations between various migrants’ characteristics and environments, types of migration (internal, international, short-term trip) and risk taking behaviors based on the case of migration from Northern Senegal. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: Early research on HIV/AIDS has found tight relationships between high HIV prevalence and migration (Lurie et al., 1997 ; Kane et al., 1993). Migrants have been identified as being at high risk of HIV infection as a result of their more likelihood to adopt risky sexual behaviors (Hunt, 1989). Factors underlying the relationships between migration and risky sexual behaviors are complex and still to be fully understood. One of the theoretical frameworks put forward postulates that migrants adopt risky sexual behaviors due to individual characteristics before and after migration as well as to contact with a new and more permissive social environment (Brockerhoff and Biddlecom, 1998). The pre-migration factors are those held by migrants before their decision to move (gender, marital status, educational attainment, socialization, ethnicity, age at initiation of sexual activity and so on). These characteristics make migrants innovators and “risk-takers” as compared to non-migrants. Even in the absence of migration, those factors are expected to predispose them to adopt risky sexual behaviors (Brockerhoff and Biddlecom, 1998). The post-migration characteristics and setting, on the other hand, are individual characteristics acquired as a result of the migration process, particularly separation from spouse or regular partner (Brockerhoff and Biddlecom, 1998). Loneliness and poor integration in his new environment are believed to exert mental and physical stress on the migrant (Anarfi, 1993). Combined with exposure to new sexual code and opportunities and to a relative anonymity, this stress leads migrants to engage into sexual affairs with casual more approachable partners, especially prostitutes (Anarfi, 1993). However, social and family disruption seems to play a less important role in the case of western african migrations. In this particular setting, migrants benefit from help of social netwoks composed of well-established migrants from the same region, the same ethnic group, etc. (Lalou et Piché, 1994). OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: The theoretical framework outlined above is particularly relevant in studying the sexual behaviors of migrants from Northern Senegal. Migration is a longstanding practice in this area and is directed towards a variety of areas with different social and sexual settings: large cities in Senegal, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire and Central Africa. Mauritania is a country with low HIV prevalence and strict control over women’s sexuality while Cote-d’Ivoire and Central Africa are experiencing high and growing HIV prevalence. Large cities in Senegal provide anonymity and availability of casual partners even though their HIV prevalence remains relatively low. On the other hand, two studies conducted respectively during early and late nineties have already revealed that migration is a key factor in the introduction and spread of HIV-1 in this region (Kane et al., 1993) as well as in the adoption of risky sexual behaviors (Piché et al., 2002). However, further analysis is needed first to better examine the factors underlying the adoption of HIV related risky-sexual behaviors and second to document how their impact vary according to different types of mobility. To fill in this gap, this paper pursues two main objectives: 1. describe migrants’ pre-migration characteristics and the social and sexual environment in which they were living during their last migration. 2. assess the relative part of migrants’ pre-migration and post-migration characteristics and setting in explaining their sexual risk-taking behaviors. DATA AND METHOD: The data used in this study was gathered as part of a project especially designed to study “Mobility and STI/AIDS in Senegal”. A representative sample of the population aged 15?49 years of two urban and rural areas in Northern Senegal has been qualitatively and quantitatively surveyed (1,320 interviews completed) during year 2000. Detailed information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics and on sexual norms, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes. Information on all internal and external migrations of respondents since birth have been collected as well as data on sexual behaviors during the last migration and during the 12 months prior to the survey. Data on life conditions during the last migration was also collected. In this paper high-risk sexual behavior will be defined as having had sexual contacts with casual partners or commercial sex workers without systematic use of condom during the last migration. Multivariate analysis will be run on the quantitative data while the qualitative information will be used to enlight some of the findings drawn from the quantitative analysis. REFERENCES: 1. Brockerhoff, M. and A. Biddlecom (1998): Migration, Sexual Behavior and HIV Diffusion in Kenya, Policy Research Division Working Papers, N° 111, Population Council, 39 pages. 2. Lurie, M. et al. (1997): “Circular migration and sexual networking in rural KwaZulu/Natal: implications for the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases” Health Transition Review, Vol. 7, Supplement 3:17-27. 3. Kane, F. et al. (1993): “Temporary Expatriation is related to HIV-1 infection in rural Senegal”, AIDS, Vol. 7:1261-1265. 4. Hunt, C. (1989): “Migrant Labor and Sexually Transmittted Diseases: AIDS in Africa”, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 4:353-373. 5. Anarfi, J. K. (1993): “Sexuality, Migration and AIDS”, Health Transition Review, Supplement to Vol. 3:45-67. 6. Lalou, R. et V. Piché (1994): Migration et Sida en Afrique de l’Ouest : un État des connaissances. Les dossiers du CEPED N° 28, Paris, 55 pages. 7. Piché, V. et al. (2002): Mobilité, comportements sexuels à risque et sida dans la Vallée du fleuve Sénégal. Rapport d’analyse préliminaire. 176 pages, Unpublished.