"The Health Risks of Migration: The Link between Health and Migration with Particular Consideration of Knowledge and Attitudes towards HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and the Sexual Practices of Moldovan Migrants" is the title of a new study launched by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission to the Republic of Moldova.

The study aims to establish HIV/AIDS knowledge and practices among Moldovan migrants, the main conditions contributing to vulnerability to HIV/STIs and sexual risk behaviour of migrants in the main states of destination and other risk factors for Moldovan migrants' health. The study results will serve as a base for the elaboration of comprehensive interventions to prevent HIV spread among Moldovan migrants and mobile population.

Study results have shown that only 44% of Moldovan migrants showed high knowledge of transmission routes of HIV and 51% middle level. The knowledge about protection methods is quite low. The knowledge of the respondents from Moldova concerning HIV/AIDS proved to be quite poor in relation to the knowledge of EU citizens documented in the last special EUROBAROMETER.

Consequently, more than the half of the respondents stated to need more information on HIV/AIDS to protect themselves even though almost three quarters of the interviewees have received information on HIV/AIDS already. HIV/AIDS seems not to be a topic discussed within peer groups of friends or migrants' families. Most Moldovan respondents wish to get more Information through mass media channels like TV, radio and news papers.

The most frequent health problems that Moldovan migrants have had during their stays in the countries of destination are headaches, chronic fatigue and depressions. The most frequent named problems at the work place are exposure to high or low temperatures (89% of the answers), no/bad sanitation (26%) and overcrowding (16%). Concerning the living place, the most given answers (59%) were no/bad sanitation (39%), no/bad hygienic conditions (24%) and overcrowding (22%).

Methodology of the study was elaborated in partnership between international consultants, Ministry of Health and IOM Moldova, data collection was done by local research agency CBS-AXA. The study was conducted within the framework of the project "Epidemiological risks of mobility: HIV prevention among Moldovan migrants", financed by World Bank, Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and Soros Foundation Moldova.

Please download the presentation of study results here (English Version / Romanian Version)

For further information, please contact Iraida Margineanu, IOM Chisinau, Tel. +373 222 329 41, imargineanu@iom.int