Sexual behaviour and perceived risk of hiv/aids among returnee labour migrants from overseas in nepal

Background: The number of people going abroad for work from Nepal has increased in the last few years, especially since the onset of armed conflict in Nepal. The major concentration of Nepali migrant workers abroad was traditionally in the Gulf States though significant people have also been migrating to Non‐Gulf states. Nepal is considered as popular country of origin for labour migrants; the at‐risk group for HIV. An examination of people’s perceptions of HIV risk can provide an important understanding of how they relate their sexual experiences to the risk of disease infection. Most of the studies conducted in Nepal regarding migrant and sexual behaviour have focussed on the migrants moving to India and not enough studies in Nepal have been done focused on sexual behaviour of migrants going to overseas. Aim: The present study attempted to identify the sexual behaviour of Nepali migrant workers in overseas and their perceived risk of HIV/AIDS. Method and material: A cross sectional study was done among Nepali male labour migrants returned from overseas, to identify their sexual behaviour while in overseas and their perceived risk of HIV/AIDS. Respondents were selected purposively from recruitment agencies in Nepal and using snowball technique from houses/hotels.Results: Among 49% of respondents who had sex with paid/unpaid partners, only 61% used condom always. Co‐working female friends were the non spousal unpaid partners for majority. Around 41% perceived themselves and around 75% perceived their friends to be at some risk of HIV.Conclusion: HIV related awareness raising activities should focus on both male and female migrants in country of origin and destination.

Author(s): Dahal Sushma

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