Migration, Sexual behavior and the risk of HIV in Kenya

The association of migration with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa is well docume nted, yet the social and behavioral mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. Using data from the 1993 Kenya ic and Health Sur vey, this article examines whether migrants are more likely than nonmigrant s to have multiple recent sexual partners and not use condoms with those pa rtners. Results indicate that migration is a critical factor in high-risk s exual behavior and that its Importance varies by gender and by the directio n of movement. Independent of marital and cohabitation status, social milie u, awareness of AIDS, and other crucial influences on sexual behavior, male migrants between urban areas and female migrants within rural areas are mu ch more likely than nonmigrant counterparts to engage in sexual practices c onducive to HIV infection. In rural areas, migrants from urban places are m ore likely than nonmigrants to practice high-risk sex. Given;he predominanc e of men in urban migration and the large volume of circulatory movement be tween urban and rural areas, these results have serious implications for HI V transmission throughout Kenya.