Migrants in transit: the importance of monitoring HIV risk among migrant flows at the Mexico-US border
Martinez-Donate, A.P.; Hovell, M.F.; Rangel, M.Gudelia.; Zhang, X.; Sipan, C.L.; Magis-Rodriguez, C.; Gonzalez-Fagoaga, J.Eduardo.
American journal of public health 105(3): 497-509
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 1541-0048 PMID: 25602882 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302336Document Number: 626906
We conducted a probability-based survey of migrant flows traveling across the Mexico-US border, and we estimated HIV infection rates, risk behaviors, and contextual factors for migrants representing 5 distinct migration phases. Our results suggest that the influence of migration is not uniform across genders or risk factors. By considering the predeparture, transit, and interception phases of the migration process, our findings complement previous studies on HIV among Mexican migrants conducted at the destination and return phases. Monitoring HIV risk among this vulnerable transnational population is critical for better understanding patterns of risk at different points of the migration process and for informing the development of protection policies and programs.