Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 9/14/2004

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U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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[These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

CONTENT:

1 - SOUTH AFRICA: Migrant women at much higher risk of HIV/AIDS - new

report

1 - SOUTH AFRICA: Migrant women at much higher risk of HIV/AIDS - new

report

JOHANNESBURG, 14 September (PLUSNEWS) - Rural women seeking work in South

Africa's urban centres are as much at risk of contracting HIV as a their

male counterparts, a new study has found.

Research funded by the UK Department for International Development showed

that HIV infection was higher among migrant women (46 percent) than

non-migrant women (35 percent).

The study, conducted in Carltonville, a small mining town about 50 km

southwest of Johannesburg, aimed to identify risk factors for HIV

infection among 834 women, mainly resident in the nearby Khutsong

township.

Whether they were married or single, migrant women showed a higher level

of HIV infection, " suggesting that whilst migrant women are away from home

they engage in sexual activities with multiple partners " .

Kangelani Zuma, co-author of the report, told PlusNews that migrant women

were, in some cases, forced into sexual relations in exchange for shelter

or security.

" Having multiple partners can be seen as a strategy for economic survival

during the migration period. Many of these migrant women do not have a

place to stay when they arrive in the urban areas and are forced to have

'transactional sex' with a series of partners, " Zuma explained.

Condom use was also lower among migrant women than non-migrant women.

" Because many of these women arrive with very little, they find themselves

powerless and unable to negotiate safe sex, " he added.

According to the study, the risk of contracting HIV was affected by age,

marital status and the use of alcohol. Women aged 35 years or younger and

married or committed were at greater risk of HIV infection than those who

were older or single.

" Being older and single often meant the woman was more stable and less

sexually active. But it must be pointed out that the use of alcohol in

itself is not a risk factor, but rather the sexual risks a person is

willing to take when under the influence of alcohol is cause for concern, "

Zuma said.

The report noted that, given the " alarmingly high " prevalence of HIV and

curable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among migrant women, urgent

intervention was needed, which should address the social and economic

factors promoting the spread of HIV.

" There is a definite need for provision of services to treat STDs, and for

educational and empowerment programmes that will promote condom use among

migrant women, " Zuma said.

He recommended that migrant women be accommodated in " resettlement " areas

catering specifically for families. " Much is being done for migrant males

to ensure that they can bring their wives and children to the hostels in

the city. The same should be undertaken for these women who leave home to

seek work, " he told PlusNews.

[ENDS]

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