Abstract
BackgroundThailand continues to attract an increasing number of migrant workers (MW) from neighboring countries including mainly Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos; however, little is known about the extent to which MWs from these countries have access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. We used data from the baseline survey of the Prevention of HIV/AIDS among MWs in Thailand (PHAMIT-2) project to document the prevalence of, and factors associated with, HIV testing among MWs from Myanmar, the largest group of MWs in Thailand.Methods and FindingsThe baseline survey of PHAMIT-2 was conducted in 2010 among MWs from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos in 10 purposely-selected provinces of Thailand. Of the 1,034 participants who qualified for the analysis to identify correlates of HIV testing, only 5.3% reported ever having been tested for HIV. Factors associated with HIV testing included having a secondary or higher education level (AOR, 2.58; CI, 1.36–4.90; P = 0.004), being female (AOR, 1.96; CI, 1.05–3.66; P = 0.033), knowing someone who died of AIDS (AOR, 1.81; CI, 1.00–3.27; P = 0.048), working in the fishery sector (AOR, 2.51; CI, 1.28–4.92; P = 0.007), and not having a work permit (AOR, 3.71; CI, 1.36–10.13; P = 0.010).ConclusionOur study, in addition to revealing significantly low HIV testing among MWs from Myanmar, identifies important barriers to HIV testing which could be addressed through interventions that promote migrants’ culturally-sensitive and friendly service, for example by facilitating flow of information about places for HIV testing, availability of language assistance, and ensuring confidentiality of HIV testing.
Highlights
Labor migration is a global human phenomenon fueled by a wide array of factors such as globalization, demographic shifts, conflicts, income inequalities and climate change
2,169 migrant workers (MWs) from Myanmar completed the survey, of which 1,049 participants consisted of those who knew a place to test for HIV and 1,120 of those who did not or were not certain where to test for HIV
Of the participants who knew an HIV testing place, most had a primary or lower education level (73.8%), and over half lived with a partner (57.0%), and had resided in Thailand for less than 5 years (54.5%)
Summary
Labor migration is a global human phenomenon fueled by a wide array of factors such as globalization, demographic shifts, conflicts, income inequalities and climate change. Thailand has become a magnet country, attracting an increasing number of migrants from its less-developed neighboring countries, namely Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. There are approximately 3.6 million migrant workers (MWs), from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, in Thailand, including both documented and undocumented migrants, with or without work permit [5]. Thailand, being a member of the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community), an organization that endeavors to promote economic integration in the region, including free movement of labor [6], is expected to experience a continued increase in the number of its migrant workers, with downstream impact on its public health system [7]. Thailand continues to attract an increasing number of migrant workers (MW) from neighboring countries including mainly Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos; little is known about the extent to which MWs from these countries have access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. We used data from the baseline survey of the Prevention of HIV/ AIDS among MWs in Thailand (PHAMIT-2) project to document the prevalence of, and factors associated with, HIV testing among MWs from Myanmar, the largest group of MWs in Thailand.
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
