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Sexual Behavior and Condom Use among Seasonal Dalit Migrant Laborers to India from Far West, Nepal: A Qualitative Study

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  • Kiran Bam
  • Rajshree Thapa
  • Marielle Sophia Newman
  • Lokesh Prasad Bhatt
  • Shree Krishna Bhatta

Abstract

Background: Around 41% of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in Nepal occur in seasonal migrant laborers. Dalit migrant laborers represent the largest proportion of reported HIV cases in the Far Western Region (Sudur Pashchimanchal, or Far West), Nepal. The study’s objectives were to assess sexual behavior, condom use status and HIV risk perception among Dalit migrant laborers to India from Far West Region, Nepal. Methods: The study was conducted among Dalit male migrant laborers aged 15 years and above who had migrated for at least six months of the last two years to India. For the sampling the village development committees (VDCs) from Achham, Doti and Kanchanpur districts of Nepal were purposively selected. The data were collected in March and April 2011 via ten in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Poor socio-economic status, caste-related discrimination, and lack of employment opportunities push large groups of young Dalits to migrate to India for employment, where they engage in sex with female sex workers (FSWs). The participants described unmarried status, peer influence, alcohol use, low-priced sex with FSWs and unwillingness to use condoms as common factors of their migration experience. Lack of awareness on HIV/AIDS was common among study participants. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and faithful, monogamous partnerships are reported as factors influencing safer sexual behavior. Conclusions: Dalits are an especially vulnerable population among migrant laborers and may be over-represented in new HIV infections in Nepal. Comprehensive surveying and health promotion programs targeted to this population are urgently needed and potent methods of stopping HIV spread.

Suggested Citation

  • Kiran Bam & Rajshree Thapa & Marielle Sophia Newman & Lokesh Prasad Bhatt & Shree Krishna Bhatta, 2013. "Sexual Behavior and Condom Use among Seasonal Dalit Migrant Laborers to India from Far West, Nepal: A Qualitative Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-1, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0074903
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074903
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    Cited by:

    1. Pramod R. Regmi & Edwin van Teijlingen & Preeti Mahato & Nirmal Aryal & Navnita Jadhav & Padam Simkhada & Quazi Syed Zahiruddin & Abhay Gaidhane, 2019. "The Health of Nepali Migrants in India: A Qualitative Study of Lifestyles and Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Bimala Sharma & Eun Woo Nam, 2018. "Condom Use at Last Sexual Intercourse and Its Correlates among Males and Females Aged 15–49 Years in Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Ararso Baru & Ikeola A Adeoye & Adeyemi O Adekunle, 2020. "“I was raped by the broker on the first day of my arrival in the town.” Exploring reasons for risky sexual behavior among sexually-active unmarried young female internal migrants in Ethiopia: A qualit," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.

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