Flexible ethnic identity, adaptation, survival, resistance: The Garifuna in the world-system

Multiple partnerships and risk for HIV among the Garífuna minority population in Belize

“…In 1797, British colonizers relocated many Garífuna to the island of Roatan in Honduras, from where groups migrated to the mainland. They established communities in present-day Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Belize [3].…”

“…In modern Garífuna society, working-age women often leave to seek jobs in major Central American cities or the United States, typically in the textile industry or as maids, while elder generations care for children [3]. There is also a great deal of out-migration among Garífuna men, who travel to other parts of Belize, neighboring countries, and the United States for work [3]. As a result, many Garífuna households are single-parent (or grandparent) and female-headed [3].…”

“…There is also a great deal of out-migration among Garífuna men, who travel to other parts of Belize, neighboring countries, and the United States for work [3]. As a result, many Garífuna households are single-parent (or grandparent) and female-headed [3]. Due to high rates of mobility, Garífuna men and women spend many months apart from one another and may seek casual partners outside of their regular relationships [5][6][7].…”

“…Multiple partnerships are common among Garífuna [3]. Men receive social support to have multiple partners and women are not expected to remain chaste until marriage.…”

“…Men receive social support to have multiple partners and women are not expected to remain chaste until marriage. Legal marriage occurs in a minority of households and Garífuna women tend to bear children without having a fixed relationship to children's fathers [3,8]. While there are no published data on the proportion of Garífuna in Belize who have multiple partnerships, studies from neighboring Honduras suggest that the practice is common.…”