AEGiS-11IAC: HIV/AIDS in the Mexico-US border: specific risk factors.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

HIV/AIDS in the Mexico-US border: specific risk factors.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:483 (abstract no. Pub.D.1293)
Montiel-Hernandez AM, Muniz M, Baez-Villasenor J, del Rio CC; CONASIDA (National AIDS Council), Deleg. Tlalpan Mexico City, Mexico. Fax: (525) 528-4220.

ISSUE: The Mexico/US border is not only one of the worlds largest but the Tijuana-San Diego crossing is the place where more border crossing take place in the world. Multiple cultural and identity factors interact in this area, sharing characteristics of both contries but never totally blending. The 6 Mexican border states with the US comprise an area with the second largest number of cases and rate in our country (3,083 cases through Dec 31st, 1995 and a rate of 23.3 cases per 100,000 population) and with more AIDS acquired through IVDU than the rest of the country (2.1% vs 0.71%). All these facts, warrant further observation of its specific risk factors.

PROJECT: To analyze HIV/AIDS risk factors in the border area through by state health departaments and NGO reports, information from a binational HIV/AIDS meeting and direct observation conducted at border cities.

RESULTS: Unique risk factors for HIV/AIDS in the border were identified: a) Floating population: Many persons try to cross the border but many end up settling at the Mexican side, entering workplaces where they engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners & casual sex as they lack information about HIV/AIDS, do not know how to use condoms or these are not available so safe sex is impossible. b) IVDU: Injected drugs are much more avaliable in the border area as drug is introduced to the US. People often exchange sex for drugs, which puts them at risk along with their partners. c) Lack of attachment: People in the border area often suffer identity crisis as they can relate to natives but feel as foreigners at the same time. This prevents developing an HIV/AIDS prevention culture as they have lost their homeplace's culture and ideology, specially regarding information campaigns they feel distant and incomprehensible. d) In-bond factories: One of the most important job sources are in-bond factories where wages are low and job conditions inadequate. People are pushed to engage in unprotected sex as a requiste to get or keep a job. e) Prostitution: Male and female commercial sex is common in this area, clients come from both sides of the border, and is closely associated with drugs and alcohol, impairing judgement and increasing chances of risk behaviour for HIV/AIDS infection. Lesson Learned: Acknowledging different characteristics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the border area warrants the following actions: 1. Developing appealing specific campaigns targeted on these risk factors. 2. Working closely with specific populations respecting their idelogy and culture to get messages through. 3. Working in coordinated prevention and care actions with organizations, both govermental and NGO's from both Mexico and the US and promoting work done at both sides.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, Risk Factors, Prostitution, HIV Infections, United States, Mexico, Risk-Taking, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Condoms, HIV Seroprevalence, HIV Seropositivity, Sexual Partners, Safe Sex, HIV-1, Disease Outbreaks, Culture, Human, Female, Male, ICA11

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