Social Support and HIV Risks Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Market Workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Migration processes are listed within the primary factors facilitating the heterosexual spread of HIV. The study examines the relationship between social support, sexual HIV risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 1342 male migrant and non-migrant market workers from Barakholka Market in Almaty, Kazakhstan.



(1) higher level of perceived social support [Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Social Support Instrument (ESSI score)] was associated with a lower likelihood of having sex with a female sex worker (FSW) [OR = 0.952 (0.927, 0.978) p < .001]; (2) higher availability of friends was associated with a higher likelihood of having STIs [OR = 1.244 (1.007, 1.537), p < .05]; (3) larger network size was associated with a higher likelihood of having STIs [OR = 1.201 (1.026, 1.407), p < .05]; (4) loneliness was associated with an increased likelihood of having unprotected sex with any female partner [RR = 1.102 (1.027, 1.182), p < .05]. Results suggest that social support factors should be considered as a component of HIV and STI prevention programs for male migrant workers from Central Asia in Kazakhstan.
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, Almaty, Kazakhstan. gaukhar.mergenova@ghrcca.org.
Gaukhar
0000-0003-4702-1944
G
Mergenova
Brigham Young University School of Social Work, Provo, UT, USA.
Stacey A
SA
Shaw
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Assel
A
Terlikbayeva
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, USA.
Louisa
L
Gilbert
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, USA.
Lenore
L
Gensburg
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Sholpan
S
Primbetova
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, USA.
Nabila
N
El-Bassel
D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology*; D000073599:Health Risk Behaviors; D006801:Humans; D007623:Kazakhstan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D060386:Sex Workers / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Central Asia; Kazakhstan; Loneliness; Migrant; Sexual risk behavior; Social support