title: Reaching hard-to-reach migrants by letters: an HIV/AIDS awareness programme in Nepal.
abstract: We assessed the impact of an HIV/AIDS programme for Nepalese migrants to India that involved writing letters. The programme created opportunities for sending HIV/AIDS-related messages to the migrants in India, and encouraging them practicing safer sex. Initially, they received the messages only from the programme, but later from their colleagues, spouses or other family members. They discussed the messages in groups, disseminated them, and sought more knowledge in their destinations. These findings indicated that using letters could be an effective way to reach inaccessible migrants at their destinations, and help them to improve their HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, and safer sex practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Poudel
authors.forename: Masamine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimba
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poudel-Tandukar
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000208:ethnology; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D021841:Safe Sex; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011477:Sex Work; D012944:Social Support; D014171:Transients and Migrants