Sexual and reproductive health and Latin-American migration in Chile: a qualitative approach towards risk situations and preventive behaviour of HIV- AIDS

Abstract

This study presents the main findings of an investigation requested by the ‘Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud’ and the ‘Colectivo Sin Fronteras’ corporation for the collection of information in connection with HIV /AIDS prevention among an emergent vulnerable population. The target was the migrant population of Latin-American origin in Santiago, Chile. The qualitative analysis of the data, obtained through in-depth interviews to a sample of this population enables us to account for the migratory experience and the factors that affect the prevention behaviours and the risks associated with HIV-AIDS. The methodology employed leads to the identification of the factors that affect the different levels of Latin-American migrant life, discrimination being a cross-sectional means that operates as a mechanism of sociocultural exclusion. Exerted by vast social sectors of the Chilean population, it denies and obstructs methodically access to basic needs, causing a negative impact in the quality of life of the migrant. At a second more specific level, aspects on the norms and values of gender-based socialisation and other aspects of sexuality proper are revealed in the migrant context. At the two levels, the analysis enables us to state that the current migratory context of Chile increases the stress and uncertainly levels; it encourages risk situations; it inhibits the possibilities of self-care and harms the protection possibilities of HIV-AIDS.