Affiliations: School of Population Health, The University of
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, The Cancer
Council Victoria, Victoria, Australia | Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Lin Li, PhD, 1/14 Smith Street,
Reservoir, Vic. 3073, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9635 5605; Fax: +61 3 9635 5440;
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: This paper aimed to assess rural-to-urban male migrant
workers' HIV vulnerability and prevention needs in a Chinese context,
specifically in the city of Chengdu, capital of the south-western province of
Sichuan. Participants: The primary sample group were 23 male migrant
workers recruited from textile factories and construction sites. In addition, a
total of 16 key informants (e.g., factory managers, healthcare providers and
policy makers) and seven community members participated in the qualitative
phase. Methods: Qualitative methods included semi-structured interviews
with male migrant workers and key informants, focus group discussions with
migrant workers and local community members, observation, and review of key
policy and programmatic documents related to HIV prevention and/or migrant
workers. Results: Findings highlight migrant workers' vulnerability to
HIV for a variety of reasons. Their migrant status rendered them economically
marginalised and socially isolated. HIV knowledge was poor and discriminatory
attitudes towards infected people commonplace. Perceptions of personal HIV risk
were low, even though study participants reportedly engaged in sexual
behaviours that placed them at risk of infection. Conclusions: A number
of interrelated factors contributed to male rural-to-urban migrant workers'
vulnerability to HIV infection. Targeted HIV prevention programs for male
migrant workers in Chengdu are urgently needed.
Keywords: Transients and migrants, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), risk, prevention and control, China
