Migrant Workers Contributing to Spread of HIV Along U.S., Mexico Border, Researchers Say

Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report

Monday, March 26, 2007

Global Challenges

Some researchers say that activity along the border between the U.S. and Mexico is contributing to the spread of HIV in Mexico, PRI's "The World" reports. The number of HIV cases among Mexican migrant workers remains relatively low but is increasing, according to George Lemp, director of the University of California's AIDS research program. The program has been working with the Mexican government's AIDS agency to study HIV/AIDS among migrant workers in California. Lemp said HIV cases have increased among women in some remote villages whose only risk factor is a male sexual partner who has traveled to the U.S. "There's a tremendous amount of high-risk behavior occurring among migrants," Lemp said, adding that migrant workers often are young men with limited education who might experiment with high-risk sex or injection drugs while in the U.S. According to "The World," high-risk behavior also occurs at "migrant way stations just south" of the U.S. border.