Community-level migration density and HIV/STI risk among Mexican youth

Background: Few studies have investigated migration and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among youth. However, research in adult populations has continuously documented higher prevalence rates of HIV in migrants. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the relationship between undocumented migration to the United States and HIV/STI risk among adolescents in Mexico. Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with male and female Mexican adolescents ages 15 to 24 (n=48) from two communities in Mexico: one with a high and one with a low density of U.S. migration. Half of the participants were return migrants and half were non-migrants with relatives in the U.S. Two interviewers elicited information on adolescents' demographic background, experiences with migration, adaptation to the U.S., reproductive health risk, and community-level migration patterns. Interviews were transcribed in Spanish and coded using ATLAS.ti software. Results: HIV/STI vulnerability associated with migration differed by community. In the low density community, migrants were primarily first generation with fewer social networks, which was associated with a riskier journey and less social support in the U.S. and thus increased vulnerability to rape and transactional sex. Migrant youth from the high density community were mostly 2nd and 3rd generation with stronger social networks, which was associated with increased exposure to U.S. society, including drugs and gangs. Conclusions: Migration density in the community of origin has an effect on the vulnerability of young migrants during the journey and in the U.S. and should be considered as an important factor in the variation of HIV/STI risk.