Networking Activities and Perceptions of HIV Risk Among Male Migrant Market Vendors in China

Abstract

HIV research among internal migrants in China has not fully explored the contexts and perceptions of “risk”. In 2011, urban markets in Liuzhou, China were mapped, and sixty male vendors, age 22 to 56, were selected for in-depth interviews on migration, social and family life, and perceptions and practices of sexual risk behavior. Participants were evenly divided among higher income shop and small stall vendors. All men were sexually active. Only the shop vendors reported non-marital sexual partners, including concurrent partners (n=15), commercial partners (n=10), and other sexual relationships (n=11). Shop vendors engaged in networking activities that facilitated commercial and non-commercial high-risk sex. Perceptions of HIV risk from commercial sex led some men to doubt the protective ability of condoms and rely on local (unproven) self-protection techniques. Networking activities played a role in high-risk sex and shaping migrants' risk perceptions and health practices. The networks created through these processes could also be used to facilitate health promotion activities.

Masculinities and Social Contexts of HIV Risk Practices Among Central Asian Male Migrant Workers

“…Consistent with prior research, factors identified as barriers to HIV testing included misperceptions about HIV, lack of knowledge on the importance of knowing one's HIV status, lack of access to testing, and fears of deportation [24][25][26][27]. These factors have been found in other studies among vulnerable groups as barriers to HIV testing [6,[28][29][30]. Men's lack of health help-seeking behaviors has been documented in literature worldwide [31] and has been attributed to attempts at enacting masculine ideals [20].…”

Advancing the Prevention Agenda for HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections in South China: Social Science Research to Inform Effective Public Health Interventions

“…As found in past research [46-48], the studies in this Special Issue found lower condom use by men and women during sex with regular partners or partners perceived as trustworthy or familiar [43, 44, 45]. In these relationships trust is conferred through interpersonal connections as well as through indirect connections - as when new sexual partners are introduced through friends or colleagues [43, 44]. By contrast, condoms are often associated with distrust, commercial sex, uncleanliness, and emotional distance.…”

“…In China, interventions to prevent heterosexual HIV/STI transmission have largely focused on pre-defined at-risk groups – especially FSW [28, 34-37] and IDU [28, 38]. Our work, however, found high levels of self-reported risk behaviors taking place outside the context of commercial sex partnerships, including unprotected sex with non-commercial partners, multiple types of sexual partnerships, and one-time sex with casual partners [39-43]. These studies force us to rethink traditional risk profiles or behaviors and to consider the importance of sexual networks as links between individuals with “typical” high-risk behaviors and members of the general population become apparent.…”

“…Several Special Issue studies explore perceptions of sexual relationships and the ways in which gender, trust, social and economic dynamics, and networking activities shape decisions about partner choice and condom use [43-45]. As found in past research [46-48], the studies in this Special Issue found lower condom use by men and women during sex with regular partners or partners perceived as trustworthy or familiar [43, 44, 45].…”

“…These studies force us to rethink traditional risk profiles or behaviors and to consider the importance of sexual networks as links between individuals with “typical” high-risk behaviors and members of the general population become apparent. A more fine-tuned perception of sexual networks and stratifications of risk profiles is apparent in the study of male migrant market vendors who vary widely in terms of social goals, business interests, and economic means, all of which shape their relationships with commercial, regular and casual sex partners [43]. …”