title: Mobility among youth in Rakai, Uganda: Trends, characteristics, and associations with behavioural risk factors for HIV.
abstract: Mobility, including migration and travel, influences risk of HIV. This study examined time trends and characteristics among mobile youth (15-24 years) in rural Uganda, and the relationship between mobility and risk factors for HIV. We used data from an annual household census and population-based cohort study in the Rakai district, Uganda. Data on in-migration and out-migration were collected among youth (15-24 years) from 43 communities from 1999 to 2011 (N = 112,117 observations) and travel among youth residents from 2003 to 2008 (N = 18,318 observations). Migration and travel were more common among young women than young men. One in five youth reported out-migration. Over time, out-migration increased among youth and in-migration remained largely stable. Primary reasons for migration included work, living with friends or family, and marriage. Recent travel within Uganda was common and increased slightly over time in teen women (15-19 years old), and young adult men and women (20-24 years old). Mobile youth were more likely to report HIV-risk behaviours including: alcohol use, sexual experience, multiple partners, and inconsistent condom use. Our findings suggest that among rural Ugandan youth, mobility is increasingly common and associated with HIV-risk factors. Knowledge of patterns and characteristics of a young, high-risk mobile population has important implications for HIV interventions.
authors: a Mailman School of Public Health , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.|b School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , CA , USA.
authors: Ashley C
authors: AC
authors: Schuyler
authors: a Mailman School of Public Health , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.
authors: Zoe R
authors: ZR
authors: Edelstein
authors: a Mailman School of Public Health , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.
authors: Sanyukta
authors: S
authors: Mathur
authors: c Rakai Health Sciences Program , Uganda Virus Research Institute , Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Sekasanvu
authors: c Rakai Health Sciences Program , Uganda Virus Research Institute , Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda.
authors: Fred
authors: F
authors: Nalugoda
authors: d Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Gray
authors: d Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health , Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors: Maria J
authors: MJ
authors: Wawer
authors: c Rakai Health Sciences Program , Uganda Virus Research Institute , Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Serwadda
authors: a Mailman School of Public Health , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Santelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019352:Censuses; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014195:Travel; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Migration; Uganda; mobility; sub-Saharan Africa; youth