IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i13p4724-d378679.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

High Mobility and STIs/HIV among Women Informal Cross Border Traders in Southern Mozambique: Exploring Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Sexual Behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Joana G Salia

    (Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde—ISCISA, 0101 Maputo, Mozambique
    International Public Health and Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA, University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Mohsin Sidat

    (International Public Health and Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA, University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, 0101 Maputo, Mozambique)

  • Sónia F Dias

    (NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa & Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1600-560 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Maria R O Martins

    (International Public Health and Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA, University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Isabel Craveiro

    (International Public Health and Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA, University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

High circular mobility creates vulnerability and elevates risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We aim to explore knowledge, perceptions of risk, and sexual behaviors in relation to STIs/HIV, in Mozambican women involved in an informal cross border trade (ICBT) and residing in South Mozambique. A cross-sectional quantitative study, in 200 women cross border traders (WICBT), affiliated to the Mukhero Association, using a structured, face-to-face questionnaire, was conducted. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi-square test were used. The median age of participants was 37.0 years (interquartile range (IQR): 31.0–43.0), 100% were literate, travelled on average six times a month. WICBT with a high education level were more likely to have awareness of Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Candidiasis; to self-perceive being at risk of getting HIV, Syphilis, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); and to test for HIV and Syphilis. Those with a low education level were more likely to have misconceptions about HIV and ever have sex in exchange for money/goods/services. Married participants were more likely to know how to prevent HIV. Participants with a high income were more likely to know about HPV; to self-perceive being at risk of getting Syphilis; to point sex workers as being at higher risk of getting HPV; and to ever test for HIV. WICBT with a low income were more likely to have sex in exchange for money/goods/services. Low and inconsistent knowledge and misconceptions of STIs/HIV, high sexual risky behavior, low perception of risk of getting STIs/HIV among this neglected and key population suggests their increased vulnerability to the STIs/HIV.

Suggested Citation

  • Joana G Salia & Mohsin Sidat & Sónia F Dias & Maria R O Martins & Isabel Craveiro, 2020. "High Mobility and STIs/HIV among Women Informal Cross Border Traders in Southern Mozambique: Exploring Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Sexual Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4724-:d:378679
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/13/4724/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/13/4724/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Olabisi Yusuff, 2014. "Gender Dimensions of Informal Cross Border Trade in West-African Sub-Region (ECOWAS) Borders," Journal of Women's Entrepreneurship and Education, Institute of Economic Sciences, issue 1-2, pages 132-152.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Moyo Annah, 2022. "A Critical Analysis of Problems Encountered by Informal Female Cross Border Traders in Zimbabwe," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(7), pages 716-722, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4724-:d:378679. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.