Social and behavioural risk factors for HIV infection among the wives of labour migrants in Nepal.
Summary Labour migration has increased the risk of HIV infection among the wives of labour migrants in Nepal. We conducted a matched case-control study to identify the social and behavioural factors for HIV infection among the wives of labour migrants in Nepal. We interviewed 112 wives of labour migrants diagnosed with HIV (cases) and 112 wives of labour migrants testing negative for HIV (controls) and used logistic regression analysis to assess independent factors associated with HIV infection. Literacy status was the only one woman-related social factor associated with HIV infection. Meanwhile literacy status, age when going abroad for the first time and country of migration were the husband-related social factors and alcohol consumption, living alone abroad and having an unpaid partner abroad were the husband-related behavioural factors associated with HIV infection in the wives. Given the husband-related social and behavioural factors are mostly determining the risk of HIV infection in the wives in our study, prevention efforts must incorporate behaviour change approaches targeting specifically to labour migrants and also to their wives.
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium soobesh@gmail.com.
Subash
S
Thapa
Department of Public Health, Nobel College Pokhara University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nirmala
N
Bista
Department of Microbiology, Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Suraj
S
Timilsina
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Department of General Practice, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Frank
F
Buntinx
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Catharina
C
Mathei
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
AIDS; HIV; Nepal; epidemiology; labour migration; risk factors; wives of labour migrants