The abstract for this poster can be found at http://www.iasociety.org/abstract/show.asp?abstract_id=2186128

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HIV among Shan migrants mulled at Toronto 2006
 
Shan migrants in Thailand are at increased vulnerability to HIV, notes
a poster presented today at the XVI International AIDS Conference
underway in Toronto, attended by 24,000 delegates from around the world.

Burma has what the WHO calls a generalized epidemic, considered one of
the worst in Asia. Officially, there are 360,000 people living with
HIV in the country, although this is believed to be a significant
underestimate, and reliable figures are elusive.  However, it is known
that the epidemic is most severe in Shan and Kachin States.  Yet only
about a quarter of Shan migrant construction workers in Chiang Mai had
ever received education, and none of it from home, noted the poster.  

Over three quarters of our respondents are from southern Shan State,
notes Dr. Vit, one of the authors and the presenter of the poster in
Toronto.  Twenty percent alone come from Mongpan, near the site of the
planned Salween Dam.  Over half the people interviewed cited abuses
such as forced relocation, seizure of property and food, or arbitrary
arrest and torture as the primary reason for fleeing home, especially
those from southern Shan State.

Although most were able to correctly identify routes of HIV
transmission, misconceptions about the disease are common and stigma
against those with HIV is high in the communities surveyed.  However,
measurements of stigma were significantly lower in those who had
received HIV education before, almost all of whom received it from
informal sources working in these communities.

The poster further noted that mainstream HIV prevention programs in
Thai have poor penetration in Shan migrant communities, with most
relying on informal Shan language programs.  Burmese language media had
the poorest penetration, accessible to less than 2% of the respondents.

Not only is Shan language, peer education feasible but ìdiversified,
culturally-appropriate, targeted HIV prevention services are urgently
needed for Shan migrants in Thailand, noted the authors.

Our findings suggest that unless the source problems are
simultaneously addressed, problems such as human rights abuses against
Shan villagers and the lack of investment in health and education back
home, Shan migrants will continue to come to Thailand, vulnerable to
HIV, noted Dr. Vit.

Shan Herald Agency for News
http://shanland.mongloi.org
www.mongloi.org/shanland

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