Migrants in transit: the importance of monitoring HIV risk among migrant flows at the Mexico-US border

Am J Public Health. 2015 Mar;105(3):497-509. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302336. Epub 2015 Jan 20.

Abstract

We conducted a probability-based survey of migrant flows traveling across the Mexico-US border, and we estimated HIV infection rates, risk behaviors, and contextual factors for migrants representing 5 distinct migration phases. Our results suggest that the influence of migration is not uniform across genders or risk factors. By considering the predeparture, transit, and interception phases of the migration process, our findings complement previous studies on HIV among Mexican migrants conducted at the destination and return phases. Monitoring HIV risk among this vulnerable transnational population is critical for better understanding patterns of risk at different points of the migration process and for informing the development of protection policies and programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / ethnology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Mexico / ethnology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sex Workers
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / ethnology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transients and Migrants / psychology
  • Transients and Migrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States / epidemiology