Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors of Sexual Behavior among Migrants in Transition from Mexico to the United States.

Jesús Alejandro Guerra-Ordoñez,Dora Julia Onofre-Rodríguez,Rogelio Zapata-Garibay,Gabriela Zamora-Carmona,Raquel A Benavides-Torres,María Aracely Márquez-Vega

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00149

Jesús Alejandro Guerra-Ordoñez, Dora Julia Onofre-Rodríguez + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00149

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Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the border region of Mexico due to the flow of migrants under desperate conditions, encouraging casual and unprotected sex. Since this has become a binational public health problem, it is important to understand the factors that predict these sexual behaviors. The aim of the current study was to investigate the facilitators and inhibitors of transition in the sexual behavior of migrants from two border regions on the Mexico-United States (US) border. This was a predictive and cross-sectional study. A sample of 256 migrants in shelters for migrants on the border between Mexico and US were selected through systematic random sampling. Predictor variables investigated for effect on the safe sexual behavior (SSB) of the migrant were reasons for having sex; sexual attitudes; sexual machismo; knowledge about HIV; access to health services; and social discrimination. The sample was predominantly male (89.5%), with 46.1% reporting being single. The average age was 33.38 years (SD = 9.73) and the average number of years of education reported was 8.05 (SD = 3.37). A permissive sexual attitude and sexual machismo both correlated with condom use (rs = 0.130, p < 0.01 and rs = -0.174, p < 0.01, respectively). Regression analysis showed that a permissive sexual attitude decreased the practice of safe sex (β = 0.17, t = 4.16, p < 0.001), as did sexual machismo (β = -0.28, t = -4.83, p < 0.001) and HIV knowledge (β = -0.11, t = -2.62, p = 0.006). It was found that access to health services did not influence the SSB of migrants, as suggested by the literature. However, a permissive sexual attitude, sexual machismo, and HIV knowledge were all variables capable of predicting SSB. It is recommended that the study is extended to study migrant populations from other parts of the border, as well undertaking as a qualitative approach to explore new variables.

Highlights

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is among the most prevalent infectious diseases in the border region of Mexico (1)
In terms of marital status, 46.1% reported being single, 22.7% were married, 8.2% divorced, 1.2% widowed, and 21.9% had a consensual union. These results indicate that male and single migrants represent the largest migratory flow in this border region
Safe sexual behavior is a variable that can be influenced by multiple factors, both personal and environmental, all of which may

Summary

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is among the most prevalent infectious diseases in the border region of Mexico (1). The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reports that HIV is on the rise within some marginalized social groups, of which migrants are among the most at risk (2). The conditions in which migrants strive to survive propitiate sexual behaviors at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS infections (4). Such sexual behaviors have been associated with both personal and environmental factors, such as attitudes toward sexuality, and it has been reported that about half (40%) of the migrants agree to have sex with occasional sex partners, and more than 50% agree to have sex in exchange for money (5, 6)

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