What Works for Women and Girls

In fact, as of September 2008, 66 of 186 countries for which data were available placedspecial entry, stay or residence restrictions on people living with HIV, adding to stigma anddiscrimination (HRW, 2009). These restrictions on the mobility of people living with HIV canincrease stigma. Migrants with HIV may have additional barriers to accessing services.Migrant labor systems have aggravated women’s economic dependence on their male partnersto a much greater extent in Southern Africa than in other parts of the continent wherewomen are more prominent in market trading and other forms of commercial activity. Thereare few income-earning activities for women with low educational attainment, heighteningwomen’s vulnerability for HIV (Hunter, 2002 cited in Hankins et al., 2006). Male migrantworkers, such as miners and truck drivers, are at higher risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS thannonmigrant workers (Mbizvo et al., 1996, cited in Corbett et al., 2000), increasing the riskfor their other sexual partners. Migrant women often have reduced access to services and mayneed to engage in transactional sex for survival.Although this is a group with several high risk factors for HIV acquisition and transmission,little evidence is available on interventions that work for migrant women and femalepartners of male migrants. Further evaluation of effective strategies is needed to identify thebest way to prevent HIV among women and girls affected by migration and to treat and carefor migrants living with HIV.Gaps in Programming—Migrant Women and Female Partners of Male Migrants1. Interventions are needed for migrant women and female partners of male migrantswho are at high risk of HIV acquisition.1. Interventions are needed for migrant women and female partners of male migrants whoare at high risk of HIV acquisition. Studies found that migrants, and female partners ofmale migrants, are often at high risk of HIV acquisition yet do not use condoms.Gap noted, for example, in China (Qin et al., 2009, Wang et al., 2007a, Choi et al.,2006); Vietnam (Nguyen et al., 2008c); Tajikistan (Bahromov et al., 2008); BurkinaFaso (Khan et al., 2008); Bangladesh (Mercer et al., 2007); Tanzania (Kishamawe et al.,2006).WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS107