Migrant Farm Workers in Southwestern Nigeria: Implications for HIV Transmission

Abstract

Migration of labor is an international phenomenon, but is especially pronounced within the West African region. Such migration is also known to be associated with the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Farmers in southwestern Nigeria increasingly depend on migrant farm workers (MFWs) as the traditional source of farm labor, their children are seeking further education and urban employment. This study documented a population of 482 MFWs within the Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, a number less than 1% of the total population, which is primarily Yoruba. A sample of 244 was interviewed. Three types of MFWs were found: labor team leaders, their apprentices, and independent migrants. Slightly over half were from Nigeria, primarily from Kogi and Benue States in what is referred to as the middle belt of the country. Benue has the highest HIV prevalence in the country. Non-Nigerians came from neighboring Benin Republic and Togo. Their ages ranged from 14–46 years, with a mean of 31. Most were paid at the end of the harvest, though some received some cash and food from the farmers who hired them. The most commonly known STIs were AlDS (86%) and gonorrhea (76%). Fifty respondents (20.5%) reported symptoms of an STI in the past year, and few of these were the apprentices. While 199 (82%) had sex before, only 77 (39%) said they had sex in the past month. Most of these (61%) had sex with their wives, and 13 (17%) had sex with multiple partners. Less than half (47%) who had sex with a non-marital partner used a condom. A positive association was found between condom use and the following: STI knowledge, perceived seriousness of STIs, favorable attitudes toward condoms, and self-efficacy perceptions for condom use.