Prevalence of anti-HIV seropositivity in Myanmar migrators in a rural area of Thailand.

Abstract

Although the prevalence of anti-HIV seropositivity in the Thai population has decreased in the recent years, migration of Myanmar labors as carriers into Thailand may increase the prevalence of anti-HIV seropositivity. Screening is recommended for the Myanmar migrators. Of interest, the epidemiology of anti-HIV seropositivity in Myanmar migrators has not been precisely determined. In this study, we report the prevalence of anti-HIV seropositivity in Myanmar migrators in a rural community in the Southern Region of Thailand with a high density of Myanmar migrators as fishermen. We analyzed the screening data for anti-HIV seropositivity among 250 Myanmar migrators (169 males and 81 females) who were in Thailand for less than 1 month. The anti-HIV seropositivity rate among these Myanmar migrants was 3.2%. The rates in males and females were 4.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Since these migrants can carry the disease into Thailand, screening tests as a prevention strategies are necessary.