HIV transmission potential among local and migrant factory workers in Kolkata, India.
Migrant workers in India play a key role in the spread of HIV. Kolkata is a common destination for workers, who may acquire infection and transmit it to their wives and/or other sexual partners. We investigated sexual relations and condom use by factory workers. Migrant and local factory workers were randomly selected from five wards of Kolkata. Information was collected about demographic and socio-economic characteristics, sexual relationships, condom usage, and perceptions and intent to use condoms. Condom use was very low in both groups of workers, particularly among migrants. Many married workers visited female sex workers but never used condoms. Few intended to use condoms, and if they did, it did not always translate into actual usage. There is great potential for transmission of HIV/sexually transmitted infections by these workers. Carefully designed intervention and education programs in the context of low literacy and cultural norms are urgently needed.
Deb
Alok Kumar
AK
National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India.
Deb
Manjari
M
Saha
Malay Kumar
MK
Chakraborty
Shantanu
S
Bhattacharya
Sujit Kumar
SK
Detels
Roger
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult