title: Migration, sexual networks, and HIV in Agbogbloshie, Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV is spread through structured sexual networks, which are influenced by migration patterns, but network-oriented studies of mobility and HIV risk behavior have been limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present a comprehensive description and initial results from our Migration & HIV in Ghana (MHG) study in Agbogbloshie, an urban slum area within Accra, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MHG study was a population-based cross-sectional study of adults aged 18-49 in Agbogbloshie in 2012. We used a one-year retrospective relationship history calendar to collect egocentric network data on sexual partners as well as migration and short-term mobility, and tested for prevalent HIV-1/2 infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV prevalence was 5.5%, with prevalence among women (7.2%) over twice that of men (2.8%). Three-quarters of residents were born outside the Greater Accra region, but had lived in Agbogbloshie an average of 10.7 years. Only 7% had moved housing structures within the past year. However, short-term mobility was common. Residents had an average of 7.3 overnight trips in the last year, with women reporting more travel than men. Thirty-seven percent of men and 9% of women reported more than one sexual partner in the last year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Population-based surveys of migration and sexual risk behavior using relationship history calendars in low-resource settings can produce high quality data. Residents in Agbogbloshie are disproportionately affected by HIV, and have high levels of short-term mobility. HIV prevention interventions targeted to highly mobile populations in high prevalence settings may have far-reaching and long-term implications.
authors.affiliation: University of California at Santa Barbara, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cassels
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jenness
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana.
authors.forename: Adriana A E
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Biney
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana.
authors.forename: William Kwabena
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ampofo
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A.
authors.forename: F Nii-Amoo
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Dodoo