Drug use and HIV risks among migrant workers on the DelMarVa Peninsula

Because high rates of drug use have been documented in the migrant farm wor ker population, the National Institute on Drug Abuse funded the Migrant Hea lth Study to examine HIV risk behaviors among drug-using farm workers and t heir sexual partners. Many of these individuals were home-based in South Fl orida and migrated during the work season to various points along the Easte rn Migratory Stream. The focus of this paper is a description of the charac teristics and behaviors of the 151 respondents contacted on the DelMarVa Pe ninsula during 1994 and 1995. The data indicate that drug use was widesprea d in this population, a significant proportion were at risk for HIV infecti on, and 6% were HIV positive. As a result of these findings, public health agencies on the peninsula have instituted HIV education programs in those c linics utilized by both local and transient agricultural workers.