Health Care : Current Reviews

Nexus between migration and HIV/AIDS: Does it matter?

Euro Health Care and Fitness Summit

September 01-03, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Joyceline Ntoh Yuh

University of Oldenburg, Germany

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Health Care: Current Reviews

Abstract:

Migration is a process that is linked not only to positive aspects such as remittances, socio-cultural changes initiated by the diaspora communities, but also negative consequences such as integration problems, increased crime and the rapid spread of infectious diseases among others. Migration is associated with diseases where migrants are perceived as carriers of vectors. Migrants and expatriates who cross international boarders move at times with diseases that are not easy to detect by receiving countries medical personnel. More so, such diseases require culturally appropriate treatment plans. Livingston (1992) noted that sexual contact with infected persons from other countries is the main mode through which HIV is transmitted from their country of origin to others in their countries of destination. As such, migrants are transmitters and recipients of HIV infection. Migrants are in most cases moving from countries where such diseases are highly prevalent to countries with low infection rates for instance, migrants from Africa where HIV is highly prevalent to European countries with low HIV prevalent rates. The association between HIV and migration relates to factors such as alcohol abuse and occurrence of many STDS among migrants, high risky sexual behaviors away from home and inconsistent condom use. Migrants have to face the harsh realities of HIV and structural barriers in foreign countries. Disease stigma, limits access to health care and lack of culturally appropriate medical care are among the challenges they experience. Gender and culture play a significant part in the aftermath of the infection. Women are more likely to be blamed for transmitting HIV compared to men. All these complicate the disclosure of infection status, seeking of medical services and prevention of HIV transmission.

Biography :

Email: n_joyce192002@yahoo.com