Abstract
Introductionmigrant mine workers are susceptible to engage in risky sexual behaviour due to their high mobility, putting at risk their families and home communities. Because comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS is a key factor in reducing HIV infections, this study aims to understand the current state of knowledge about HIV in these communities, estimate HIV prevalence and evaluate the risk behaviour associated with comprehensive knowledge.Methodssecondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey conducted in two communities of origin of mine workers in Gaza Province, targeting current and former mine workers of the South African mines and their relatives. Households were selected using simple random sampling methodology. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were used to assess statistical differences between comprehensive knowledge and categorical variables.Resultsfrom a total of 1,012 participants, only 22.0% of the respondents had comprehensive knowledge about HIV. The overall HIV prevalence in these communities was 24.2% and the HIV prevalence in individuals with comprehensive knowledge was 18.6%. Among the respondents with comprehensive knowledge, 33.1% were male, 22.0% have worked in a South African mine and the median age was 34 years old. Individuals from Muzingane were almost twice as likely (AOR 1.7; 95% IC 1.21-7.44, p=0.014) to have less comprehensive knowledge about HIV than their counterparts in Patrice Lumumba.Conclusionthe results demonstrate a low level of comprehensive knowledge about HIV amongst this population and reveal an association between comprehensive knowledge about HIV and prevalence. Therefore, it is important to improve knowledge about HIV, its transmission and prevention amongst this population.
Highlights
In 2018, UNAIDS estimated that Mozambique has 2.2 million people infected with HIV with only half currently taking ART [1]
This paper aims to investigate the association between comprehensive knowledge of HIV, HIV prevalence and risk behaviours in two migrant mineworkers communities of origin, in Gaza Province
In this survey conducted on residents of two migrant mineworkers communities of origin in Gaza Province, Mozambique, it was found that overall knowledge of HIV was low, in which only one in four persons living in these mining communities had comprehensive knowledge about HIV, whereby is within average according to a study that took place in three African countries and estimated comprehensive knowledge of HIV is below 50% in all the three study sites [10]
Summary
In 2018, UNAIDS estimated that Mozambique has 2.2 million people infected with HIV with only half currently taking ART [1]. A Bio-behavioural Survey (BBS) was conducted in 2012 in Mozambique, among Mozambican mineworkers that worked in the South African mines showed that this population presents a high number of sexual partners, practice transactional sex with commercial sex workers, and low condom use with both their spouses and occasional partners. It revealed an HIV prevalence of 22.3% amongst Mozambican mineworkers employed in the South African mines [3, 5]. According to the Mozambique Survey of Indicators on Immunization, Malaria and HIV/AIDS (IMASIDA), Naira Jacira Luiz et al PAMJ - 40(19). 07 Sep 2021. - Page numbers not for citation purposes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
