[Migrants' female partners: social image and the search for sexual and reproductive health services].
OBJECTIVE
Analysing the self-image and social image of migrants' female partners (MFP) and their relationship with the search for sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) in communities having a high US migratory intensity index.


METHODS
60 MFP were subjected to in-depth interviews between October 2004 and May 2005 and 19 semi-structured interviews were held with members of their families, 14 representatives from social organisations, 10 health service representatives and 31 men and women residing in the community.


RESULTS
MFP self-image and social image regards women as being "vulnerable", "alone", "lacking sexual partner" and thus being sexually inactive. Consequently, "they must not contract sexually-transmitted diseases (STD), use contraceptives or become pregnant" when their partners are in the USA. The search for SRHS services was found to be related to self-image, social image and the notion of family or social control predominated in the behaviour expected for these women which, in turn, was related to conditions regarding their coexistence (or not) with their families.


CONCLUSIONS
MFP living with their family or their partner's family were subject to greater "family" control in their search for SRHS services. On the contrary, MFP living alone were subjected to greater "social" control over such process. Sexuallyinactive women's self-image and social image seems to have a bearing on such women's social behaviour and could become an obstacle to the timely search for SRHS services in communities having high migratory intensity.
Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. cochoa@insp.mx
Sandra C
SC
Ochoa-Marín
Sergio
S
Cristancho-Marulanda
José Rafael
JR
González-López
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012938:Social Perception; D012947:Social Work; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D055815:Young Adult