HIV Surveillance among Migrant Workers
HIV Surveillance among Migrants and Mobile Populations
Description
The course aims to provide an understanding of the components and implementation of HIV surveillance among migrant populations, and focuses on special issues involved with conducting bio-behavioural HIV surveillance among migrants.
Migration is one of key social factors that have contributed to the HIV epidemic. However, many countries do not have a surveillance system that captures the extent to which migration contributes to the HIV transmission, and monitors the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes among migrants. “Mobile populations” is the term used to refer collectively to groups of people who move from one place to another. Migration can be divided into voluntary and job-related migration (includes truckers, skilled and unskilled labourers, fishermen, etc.) and involuntary (includes refugees, and internally displaced people).
Voluntary and involuntary migrants are vulnerable to HIV infection for a number of reasons, including the following:
- Many migrant workers travel to, reside in and work at locations where risky behaviour may be occurring, including multiple sex partners and drug use.
- Female migrants may sell ‘survival sex’ when they arrive at a new location and have no other sources of income.
- Migrants have limited access to health services, including HIV services.
- The psychological and social trauma associated with being a refugee or internally displaced person may lead to increased drug use.
- War and civil unrest may increase the incidence of sexual attacks against women and girls, heightening their risk of HIV infection.
- Several studies have demonstrated the importance of major drug transportation corridors in the spread of HIV.
Learning objectives
The course objectives are to:
- Introduce participants to principles and components of HIV surveillance
- Distinguish between various types of mobile populations and the importance of population mobility to HIV transmission
- Provide understanding of various sampling methods that can be used to recruit migrant populations into HIV surveys, with the emphasis on the use of probability-based sampling methods
- Describe special considerations associated with surveillance in mobile populations
- Learn how to design HIV surveillance systems that provide evidence for planning HIV prevention programmes among migrants
- Discuss the special ethical considerations in sampling migrant populations
Key topics
- European and global initiatives to address HIV among mobile populations
- Principles and components of HIV surveillance
- Formative research and gaining access to mobile populations
- Types of sampling: population-based and facility-based; probability- and non-probability-based sampling
- Main advantages and disadvantages of each component of HIV surveillance
- Main requirements for successful implementation of HIV surveillance among migrants
- HIV and STI tests and testing algorithms used in surveillance
- Key approaches to analysis of surveillance data
- Limitations in the interpretation of HIV surveillance data
- Indicators from surveillance surveys used to evaluate HIV prevention programmes among migrants
- Use of surveillance data for planning of HIV prevention programmes among migrants
- Models of interventions that address HIV and mobility
- Development of a protocol for HIV surveillance among migrants
Key references
A united Europe, a shared concern. HIV and population mobility in an enlarged European Union. AIDS & Mobility Europe. NIGZ. 2006.
http://ws5.e-vision.nl/
Cole P. Human rights and the national interest: migrants, healthcare and social justice. J Med Ethics 2007; 33: 269-72.
Del Amo J, Broring G, Hamers F, Infuso A, Fenton K. Monitoring HIV/AIDS in Europe’s migrant communities and ethnic minorities. AIDS 2004; 18: 1867-73.
Behavioral Surveillance Surveys: guidelines for repeated behavioral surveys in populations at risk of HIV. Arlington: Family Health International, 2000.
Resources on Most-at-Risk Populations: Sampling strategies and design tool for most at risk groups: http://www.theagencyfordesign.
Using data from HIV surveillance systems: Guidance on the Organisation, Presentation and Effective Use of Data from Second Generation Surveillance Systems
WHO
http://www.who.int/hiv/
Ethical issues to be considered in second generation surveillance
Teaching Methods
The module consists of lectures and exercises, and utilises interactive methods of learning. A small group exercise will consist of development of a protocol for one component of STI surveillance which will enable participants to acquire practical skills. In addition, key readings and all lectures are provided to participants on a CD.
Target Audience
Epidemiologists, social scientists, public health professionals who work on HIV surveillance and HIV prevention among migrants and mobile populations
Duration:
The course takes place in five days.
Partners:
University of California, San Francisco
International Organization for Migrations (IOM)
Downloads:
Programme: HIV Surveillance among Migrant Workers
