A STUDY ON

MIGRANT WORKERS AND HIV AND AIDS

(A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION)

FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF BACHELORS DEGREE IN SOCIAL

WORK

SUBMITTED BY:

RIJANA MALLA
BACHELOR IN SOCIAL WORK 3RD YEAR
KANTIPUR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITIES
NEW BANESHWOR
KTM NEPAL
 LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

This is to certify that Ms. Rijana Malla has completed this thesis entitled
"Migrant Workers and HIV and AIDS: A study on Socio-economic
Condition " under my supervision and guidance. I, therefore, recommend
this dissertation for final approval and acceptance.

.
.................................................
(Research Supervisor)
Mr. Khem Raj Bhattarai
K and K college, baneshwor
 TRIBHUWAN UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

K AND K COLLEGE,

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK,

NEW BANESHWOR, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

ACCEPTANCE LETTER

This dissertation entitled MIGRANT WORKERS AND HIV AND AIDS:

Socio-economic condition, by Ms. Rijana Malla has been submitted
to the department of Social Work. The undersigned members of the
thesis committee have read this dissertation and approved it.

Approved by

...
Mr. Suman pd. Shrestha
Principal

Mr. KhemRaj Bhattarai
Supervisor

..
External Examiner
Date:
 Acknowledgment

The completion of the present study is a product of help and support

of several hands. I am highly indebted to all those respondents who provide
me information and data about the study.

First of all I would like to extent sincere gratitude to my

dissertation supervisor Ram Raj Pratap Bhandari and Mr. Khem Bhattarai. I
express my indebtedness to my entire teacher of department of Social
Work, Kantipur College of business management and humanities for their
inspiration and morals.

I am very grateful to all my friends who supported me to succeed this

study. And like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Laxmi Raj Pant, the
director and all other staff of Sukhraraj tropical disease hospital for their
cooperation.

Finally I would like to thanks my sister, Ms. Geheni Joshi who

supported me and advise me to do research is this issue and also to all the
staff, members, and those who are involved directly and indirectly in the
preparation of dissertation.

Rijana Malla
 Letter of recommendation
Acceptance letter
Acknowledgements
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
Abbreviation
Page
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1-9

1. 1 Background 1
1.1.1 What is migration? 2
1.1.2 HIV and AIDS: Definition 3

1.2 Statement of the problem 6

1.3 Proposed research questions 7
1.4 Objectives of the study 8
1.5 Rationale of the study
8
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10-19
2. Introduction
2.1 Term migrant 10
2.2 Migration history
2.2.1 The focus on the Neo- classical studies 10
2.2.2 Focus on the modern studies 11
2.3 Tradition of foreign employment 11
2.4 Involvement of men and women 12
2.5 Migrant workers and HIV / AIDS 14
2.5.1 What are HIV / AIDS? 14
2.5.2 How you cannot get HIV 14
2.5.3 Socio-economic profile 15
2.6 Migration and HIV in Asia 16
2.7 Organizations Active in enforcing equal rights and
Opportunity 18

Chapter 3: RESEARCH METHODS 20-25

3. Introduction
3.1 Selection of the study 20
Location of settings 20
3.2 Research design 20
3.3 Source of data 21
3.4 Sampling procedure 21
 3.5 Data collection techniques 22
3.5.1 Interview schedule 22
3.5.2 Observation of different organization 22
3.6 Reliability and validity of data 23
3.7 Field experience 23
3.8 Analysis of data 24
3.9 Limitation of the study 25

Chapter 4: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 26-42

4. Data analysis 26
4.1 Background of the Respondent 26
4.1.1 Composition of respondents by Age Group 26
4.1.2. Composition by sex 27
4.1.3 Education 28
4.2 Family status 28
4.2.1 Composition of respondents by Family occupation 29
4.2.2 Composition of respondent with whom they are living 30

4.3 Economic status 31

4.3.1 Composition of respondent by Occupation 31
4.3.2 Composition on the basis of Job according to
qualification 31
4.3.2 Composition on basis of Occupation enough for
Living 32
4.3.3 Composition on basis of respondents Economic
supporter 33
4.3.4 Composition on basis of Economic problem respondent
getting 34
4.4 Social Status 34
4.4.1 Composition on the basis of behavior respondent
Get 34
4.4.2 Composition of respondent on their first reaction on family 35
4.4.3 Composition on basis of support that they get from family 36
4.4.4 Composition on the basis of difficulties their family getting 36
4.4.5 Composition of Problem in marriage life 37
4.4.6 Composition on basis of Behavior from society 38

4.5 Knowledge before infection 39

4.5.1 Observation and suggestion regarding HIV and AIDS 39
4.5.2 Respondents linked with organization 40

4.6 Major findings 40

Chapter five: Impact on individual, family and

communities sand empowering them 43-45
 5.1 Impact on individual 43
5.2 Impact on family 43
5.3 Communities and Nations 43
5.4 Empowering Migrants 44

Chapter 6: SUMMARY and CONCLUSION 46-50

6.1 Summary 46
6.2 Conclusion 48
 List of tables
Table no.1Cumulative HIV and AIDS situation in Nepal
Table no.2 Cumulative HIV infection by sub- group and sex
Table no.3 Cumulative HIV infection by age group
Table no.4 Composition of respondents by Age Group
Table no.5 Composition of respondents by Family occupation
Table no.6 Composition of respondent by Occupation
Table no.7 Respondents linked with organization

List of figures
Figure 1 age group
Figure 2 sex group
Figure 3 family occupation
Figure 4 living position
Figure 5 occupations of respondents
Figure 6 job qualification
Figure 7 occupations for living
Figure 8 economic supporter
Figure 9 economic problems
Figure 10 social behavior
Figure 11 reactions from family
Figure 12 support from family
Figure 13 difficulties for family
Figure 14 problems in marriage life
Figure 15 behavior getting
Figure 16 knowledge on HIV
Abbreviation

AIDS: Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome

HIV: Human immuno deficiency virus
No. Number
STDH Sukraraj Tropical Disease Hospital
UNAIDS: Joint United nation program on HIV and AIDS.
UN: United Nation
UNDP: United nation development program
UNESCO: United nation educational, scientific and cultural
organization
UNIFEM: United nation development fun for women
Vol.: Volume
1. Introduction

1.1 Background
As a developing country, Nepal has not been very successful in effectively
driving the country towards industrialization. Moreover the geographical
barriers that exist in the country act as obstacles to development (Major
Dipak Bahadur Gurung). With the globalization on the trend of people going
from one place to another has intensified. The production of exports item is
also difficult as Nepal is landlocked country. In this context, foreign migration
for employment is increasing day by day in Nepal as well. It has emerged as a
very attractive option among youths of Nepal. Along with men, foreign
employment has also started attracting as increasing number of women.

There are numerous realistic stories of the sufficient sufferings of Nepalese

workers abroad. It is believed that Nepalese workers are accepted in east and
Southeast Asia as well as gulf countries only because they are cheap and they
do whatever job given. Nepalese whether by obtaining permits or by illegal
means- reach their destination after paying rs.80, 000- 1, 00,000 to
middlemen and agencies.

Along with international flows of capita, information and technology,

international migration is one of the major forces of changes in the world. The
united nation(UN) estimates that in the late 1990s, 2.6 million people
migrated annually from less developed to developed countries, seeking
employment, reuniting with family or freeing conflict and persecution as
refugees, and internally and externally displaced person(UNDP2004).

1
The labor migration is a form of mobility behavior of human beings that
occurs within a particular socio- cultural and economic context. Circumstances
of migratory behavior of human beings vary in accordance with socio-cultural
context. In tradition society migratory behavior of people has taken place as
households how to routinely respond to challenges, constraints and obligation
of rural living (Subedi, 1999)

1.2 What is a migration and Migrant worker?

Migration is the crossing of the boundary of a political or administrative unit
for a certain minimum period of time. It includes the movement of refugees,
displaced persons, uprooted people as well as economic migrants. Internal
migration refers to a move from one area (a province, district or municipality)
to another within one country. International migration is a territorial
relocation of people between nation- states. (UNESCO)
According to the oxford advanced learners dictionary of current English, to
migrant means to move from out place to another (to live there)

Rao (1980), migration is a shift in the place of residence for some length of
time, while it exclude short visits and tours, it includes different types of both
voluntary and involuntary movements,

Globalization has fostered the flow of movable workers migrants who

travel from countries with large workforces and higher unemployment rates to
fill gaps in nations with a stagnant or dwindling labor supply. This can benefit
both the destination and source countries. The former can fill jobs that their
own citizens generally decline to take. In the latter, remittances from
overseas workers can make a heavy contribution to gross domestic product,
and an enormous difference to individual families and the communities in

2
which they live.(UNIFEM, fact sheet, 2005 World Summit, 1416 September
2005) .

While looking at the number or foreign migrant workers in Nepal and

Nepalese migrant workers abroad, a complicated and confusing picture arises
because of the open Nepal-India boarder. During 1965 to 1990, the number of
international migrants increased by 45 million, an annual growth of 2.1
percent. The current annual growth rate is about 2.9 percent (international
organization for migration, 2005).

1.3 HIV and AIDS: Definition

We do not know how many people developed AIDS in the 1970s, or

indeed in the years before. Neither do we know, nor will we probably never
know, where the AIDS virus HIV originated. (Mann J. M (1989) 'AIDS)

The scale of the HIV-AIDS epidemic in Asia is now comparable to that

of sub-Saharan Africa. In 1995, for the first time, more people became
infected in Asia than in Africa and new infections in Asia accounted for nearly
half of the world total of 2.5 million that year. By mid-1996, the number of
people infected with the HIV virus in South and South East Asia was around 5
million, with an additional 50,000 or so in East Asia and the Pacific. By the
end of the century Asia will overtake Africa as the region most affected by the
epidemic. (UNAIDS, 2000) HIV/AIDS Centre Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Centre

An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end
of 2005, out of which Asias share comprised some 8.3 million people
(2.4million among adult women). HIV and AIDS has become a prominent
problem in the tiny South Asian country of Nepal. The first HIV positive case
in Nepal was reported in 1988. (Violation against women and HIV: cause and

3
consequences, Action aid Nepal,). Today the total number of people living
with HIV positives is: male- 8099 and female- 3905. Most of them are found
between the age group of 30-39.

The spread of HIV/AIDS in any country can be characterized as a major

threat not only to the health of the individuals affected but also to the viability
of households the well being of local communities and even the development
of the wider economy(David Seddon, British scholar, article HIV and AIDS in
Nepal. the coming crisis).

The rapid spread of HIV-AIDS in India is of direct major significance for the
future development of the epidemic in its small northern neighbor, Nepal,
given the constant movement of large numbers of people between the two
countries and the necessity for the Nepalese economy to maintain these links
at all levels national, regional, and household.

Table no.1Cumulative HIV and AIDS situation in Nepal

Condition Male Female Total

HIV Positives
6105 2573 8678
( Including AIDS)
AIDS ( out of total
909 339 1248
HIV)

Data: 2007, jan31

4
Table no.2 Cumulative HIV infection by sub- group and sex

Data:

Sub group Male Female total 2007,

Sex Workers (SW) 650 650 jan31

Clients of SWs/STD 4062 103 4165

Men having sex 11 11

with Men (MSM) Table
Blood or 17 5 22
no.3
organ recipients
Injecting Drug Use 1787 30 1817**

Cumulative HIV infection by age group

Data: 2007, jan31

Age group Male Female Total

0-4 Years 93 51 144 1.2

5-9 Years 114 64 178
10-14 Years 34 23 57
15-19 Years 208 214 422
20-24 Years 956 511 1467
25-29 Years 1487 654 2141
30-39 Years 2472 797 3269
40-49 Years 622 217 839
50 above 119 42 161
Total 6105 2573 8678
Statement of the problem
A study from 1960s (Lee, 1996) in migration studies, basically, Push and Pull
factors associated with place of residence and destination are addressed in
general. Particularly socio- cultural and economic context, in which migratory
behavior of people occurs, are more responsible for migration. The people of

5
traditional societies are highly mobile and mobility has remained an integral
part of their customary life (Subedi, 1999)

It is seen in fact that over two million people of Nepal (10 percent of
countrys adult labor force) are working in abroad. The number of Nepali
migrant workers in India is three million. It is very big number in comparison
to migrant workers in other countries.

The reasons behind migration are almost the same in Nepal as in other parts
of the world. Poverty, limited employment opportunities, deteriorating
agricultural productivity, and armed conflict are some of the motives behind
international labor migration. There are many villages in Nepal where labor
migration has been established as a culture of a community; that is, going
abroad for work for awhile. Mainly by pushing rural residents, mostly sexually
active age groups, from war-torn areas to cities and to other country, the
conflict has helped to spread HIV. (UNDP, 2006)

Unemployment is prevailing problem of our country. Nepalese society is

facing the problem of international economic imbalance, pain of poverty,
environmental degradation combined with the absence of peace and security.

Increasingly, migration has a face women constitute 50 per cent or

more of migrant workers in Asia and Latin America, and in countries such as
Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, they significantly outstrip men. While
some women reap benefits from access to new employment opportunities, the
vast majority end up at the lower end of the job market as domestic and
service workers, and as entertainers, typically a euphemism for sex workers.
Often with no legal protection or access to information about what provisions
may be available, they face exploitation and violation of the most basic human
rights, from the right to a living wage to the right to protection from physical

6
harm. The worst abuses force women into sexual slavery. (UNIFEM, fact
sheet, Migrant Women in Search of Decent Jobs)

Beside all the realities, migration coupled with a general lack of knowledge on
HIV and AIDS, separation from families and partner put them at to risk to
practice unsafe sexual practices making them vulnerable towards HIV (UNDP
2006). In such case UNAIDS estimates at least 10 percent of the 2 million to 3
million Nepalese migrant workers in India only are HIV positive. And these
men are now infecting spouses and others in many parts of the country. Now
however in recent year, these people no longer appear to be returning to
Nepal for working their own country.

Estimates of internal and external migration for seasonal and long-term labor
range from 1.5 to 2 million people. It is necessary for the economic survival of
many households in both rural and urban areas. Removal from traditional
social structures can promote unsafe sexual practices, such as having multiple
sexual partners and engaging in commercial sex. A 2002 study suggests that
HIV prevalence is nearly 8 percent in migrants returning from Mumbai.

To develop feasible and effective preventive interventions for

reducing HIV risk behaviors amongst migrant workers, this study aimed to
characterize their HIV/AIDS risk and protective knowledge, attitudes, and
behaviors, as well as key contextual factors that would likely impede or
facilitate a preventive intervention.

In this regard, the major focus of this study is on the following sets of the
research question:

1. How do migrant workers taking the issue of HIV and Aids?

2. How do they cope with the situation?
3. What are the socio-economic condition of their?

7
4. What are they doing for survival?
5. What kind of behavior they are getting from their family and society?
6. What must be their major role in flow of information on HIV and Aids?

1.3Proposed research questions

1. What is the socio-economic condition of migrant workers?

2. What kind of behavior do they get from their society/family?

3. What kind of difficulties and opportunities are they getting?

4. What is the socio- economic condition of migrant workers?

5. What kind of role they must play to flow information on HIV and AIDS?

1.4 Objectives of the study

1. To address the problem faced by migrant workers.
2. To know the socio-economic condition of migrant worker
3. To know the challenges of migrant workers living with HIV and AIDS
4. To know the opportunity for their development and survival.

1.5Rationale of the study

Nepal is one of the worlds least developed Countries where most of the
population are living with poverty, unemployment, declining natural
resources, and more recently the Maoist insurgency ,which are major reasons
why international labor migration is an increasingly important source of
income. As the matter the number of migrant worker are increasing day by
day.

8
 The literature available on the issue related to Nepalese migrant workers
and HIV and AIDS provide more or less important information of the condition
of workers. However, it is very necessary to make a systematic study since
only such studies could help one to know directly the facts and figures in real
situation. Therefore the research will be design to collect the first hand
information from migrant worker living with HIV and AIDS and will give the
answer to the question like: what is the socio-economic condition of migrant
worker? Are they facing any difficulties? What must be their role in
family/society to flow information on HIV and AIDS?

Chapter Two: Literature review

2. Introduction

9
 In course of literature review, I visited different libraries, I/NGOs,
organizations working for migrant workers and other resource centers and
consulted different books, journals and research reports. That related
literature with the study has reviewed below.

2.1 Term migrant

The term migrant can be understood as "any person who lives temporarily or
permanently in a country where he or she was not born, and has acquired
some significant social ties to this country." 1 However, this may be a too
narrow definition when considering that, according to some states' policies, a
person can be considered as a migrant even when s/he is born in the country
(UNESCO).

2.2Migration history
Studies of migration can be classified roughly as neo classical, modern and
emerged. Through 1960s, the movement of people from countryside to cities
and their assimilation into the dominant culture comes under neo classical,
likewise structural in equalities and migration of people from less develop to
more developed region in search of job were the major focus of modern
studies.

2.2.1 The focus on the Neo- classical studies

The laws of migration formulated by Ernest George Raventien are
the oldest concept in understanding migration. The neo classical approach is
based on push pull models, which is also known as tradition migration theory
(Wyss, 2003:15)
The push factor of migration are land tenure system, pressure of rural
poverty, wide dispersion of property and income and unfavorable term of
trade. Likewise, employment opportunity and other facilities in the urban area
are pull factors of migration (Ravenstein, 1885-89)

10
2.2.2 Focus on the modern studies
Structural inequalities as cause migration are the major focus of migration
studies in modern period (Lewellen, 2002:131). Migration and some group of
non migrants often make migration decision jointly. Although, migration unit
is usually an individual, the units of analysis for migration are culturally
defined unit of production and consumption.

2.3 Tradition of foreign employment

The tradition of Nepalese foreign employment is very old. The East India
Company started recruiting Nepalese men in the army in the year 1814. The
Nepalese have been going abroad for employment for the last 188 years and
this trend is still continuing. However, for years the government did not make
any provision, plans or laws for migrant workers. The foreign employment
policy was only implemented in 1984 only after incidents of Nepalese people
being cheated abroad, harassed and even dying came to limelight.(UNIFEM)

Today, almost 175 million people world-wide are thought to be living outside
their countries of origin. For many of them, migration is a real lifeline, but all
too often they face exploitation and abuse.

As Europe widens her borders, immigration has become a sensitive issue in

many EU countries. Their economies needs for medium-term labor must be
balanced against the tensions that are developing within their society. Part of
the labor shortfall is being supplied by Central and Eastern European
countries, the new EU members or candidates for EU membership.

Migrant workers make up 7% of the total UK population, or almost 10 % of

the working population. Migrant workers raise national economic output by
expanding the supply of labor and by filling gaps in the job market.

11
Labor migration is not a recent phenomenon in Nepal. For about 200 years
Nepali men, and to a lesser extent women, have been leaving their homes to
seek employment abroad. But both the scale and the nature of migration have
been changed significantly over that period. Even before the recruitment of
Nepali men as soldiers into the British army(as Gurkhas), which began in the
early part of the 19th century, Nepalese had fled from excessive taxation,
compulsory and unpaid forced system, and fear of land appropriation by state
authorities during and after the unification of the country. This was in large
part a migration triggered by push factors associated with the harsh socio-
economic condition and feudal agrarian condition where the exploitation of
tenants-cultivation was a consequence of the expansion of the state. But at
that time they mainly went to adjacent areas, in Sikkim, Bhutan, and India,
where land was more freely available for small- holder agricultural cultivation,
estates, and plantation, and new employment opportunities in factories and
mines and other sectors of the Indian economy were beginning to develop.
Migration was not always easy and certainly migration to Assam and other
parts of northeast India and later to Burma was fraught with difficulties.

2.4 Involvement of men and women

How far women were involved in this early migration abroad is little
known. But there are many cases, both of permanent re- settlement and
temporary labor migration, in which women certainly accompanied their
husbands and other family members, and to limited extant also migrated on
their own or in gangs. In Nepal, constitution of 1990 states in its directives
principle to the government that the states can take measures to generate
employment opportunities for women and raise their socio-economic status
(UNIFEM; Women migrant workers) . Increasingly, migration has a female
face women constitute 50 per cent or more of migrant workers in Asia and
Latin America, and in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri

12
Lanka, they significantly outstrip men. While some women reap benefits from
access to new employment opportunities, the vast majority end up at the
lower end of the job market as domestic and service workers, and as
entertainers, typically a euphemism for sex workers.( Migrant Women in
Search of Decent Jobs)

Another major strand in the history of migration is the recruitment of

Nepali men into the British army and later, after Indian independence, also
into the Indian army. Women were not recruited, but often accompanied their
husband or partners, to live with them in there regimental station and
followed them on campaigns as camp-followers. Throughout the long period of
recruitment of Nepalese into foreign armies, some women have accompanied
their men folk, moving with them from posting to posting.

Migrant Sex Workers

2.5 Migrant workers and HIV / AIDS

2.5.1 What are HIV / AIDS?

13
 HIV stands for the Human Immune-deficiency Virus. HIV is the
cause of AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

There are cells in your body which protect you from invasion by
bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. They also destroy cancer cells. The HI
Virus attacks and destroys these cells in your body so that they can no longer
fight diseases.

After you have been infected for a long period, usually 3 - 7 years,
many of these cells will have been destroyed and your body will not be able to
defend itself against infections and cancers. This is the phase of HIV -
infection when you become sick, and is known as AIDS.

After knowing about migrant workers working from different countries

and the knowledge about HIV and AIDS, the study focuses on the Socio-
Economic Condition of migrant workers living with HIV and AIDS. So today
people being educated also they discriminates those people living with HIV
and aids. A family, a society, and an individual need to know the most
important fact about the HIV and AIDS are

2.5.2 How you cannot get HIV

HIV infection does not "just happen". You cannot catch it like a cold or
'flu. HIV is not spread by coughing or sneezing. You only get HIV by receiving
infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids from another person. HIV is not easy
to get.

You will not get HIV through everyday contact with infected people at
school, at work, at home, or anywhere else
You will not get HIV from clothes, telephones, computer keyboards or
toilet seats. It cannot be passed on by things like cups, knives and forks

14
 You cannot get HIV from eating food that has been prepared by an
infected person
You will not get HIV from a mosquito bite. HIV does not live in a
mosquito. You also will not get it from bedbugs, lice, flies or any other insects
You will not get HIV from sweat or tears

2.5.3 Socio-economic profile

The rapid spread of the disease is related to poverty and the lack of
access to socio-economic rights such as housing, clean water, sanitation and
health care.

Everyone and anyone can get HIV / AIDS, but those most at risk are
youth, women, migrant workers, long-haul truck drivers and sex workers.

The following socio-economic factors help to spread the epidemic:

Migrant labor increases the spread of the disease by breaking

families apart.
Single sex hostels
Overcrowded housing
Discrimination
Domination
Poor access to health care
Lack of recreation facilities
Lack of information
Illiteracy and poor education
High unemployment
Exploitation and inequality of women (this makes it difficult for
women to demand safer sex)

15
 Other poverty related diseases such as TB
Sexually transmitted diseases

In 1994-95, sixty one percent of farm workers lived in poverty.

(Farm Worker Conditions, 2000). Not only does this quote illustrate how
many migrant workers live in poverty, it also indicates that poverty of migrant
workers is on the rise. The conditions the majority of migrant workers have
to deal with are appalling. Most migrant farm workers do not have enough
money to supply themselves with tolerable living conditions. These workers,
who work so hard to put food on our tables, are often not paid enough to put
a roof over their head and food on their table. Although in many cases
housing for migrant workers is worsening, there are efforts being made to try
and improve the miserable conditions that they have to live and work in.
(Farm work condition, 2000)

2.6 Migration and HIV in Asia

South Asia, which is burdened with the one of the lowest human
development indicators and increasing socio-economic inequalities, is home to
the worlds second largest number of people on the move. Annually more than
200 million people are estimated to migrate within and between countries in
the region, in desperate search for a better life. This intense movement of
people is accentuated by the growing mismatch between pockets of economic
activity and deprivation brought about by the new global economic order.
(MOBILITY AND MIGRATION)

Asia is also home to the second largest number of people living with
HIV/AIDS and a region with one of the fastest rates of HIV infection in the
world. Though the HIV prevalence rates are still reportedly low, the huge
population of the region translates them to large numbers, there are over 7.6

16
million people living with HIV in South and South East Asia. In India alone
accounted for 5.7 million infections in 2005. All over South Asia there are
concentrated epidemics among the vulnerable groups such as sex workers,
injecting drug users and MSM (Men having Sex with Men). The infection is
steadily spreading to the general population, closing fast the window of
opportunity for prevention. Experience from the region and other parts of the
world clearly show that the apparent low prevalence does not offer any room
for complacence. (MOBILITY AND MIGRATION)

Sex workers attending meeting

2.7 Organizations Active in enforcing equal rights and

Opportunity

Ample instances have shown that the sate has failed to effectively
protect the rights of migrant workers in general and that of women migrant

17
workers in particular. Trade unions are the main organization to ensure rights
and opportunities of workers. However, these unions are able to operate only
within a country and do not have transnational authority and mandate.
Therefore, their activities towards ensuring migrant workers rights and
opportunities remain only as a pressure group insisting the government to
make recruiting agencies accountable and to have diplomatic bilateral
negotiations with host governments for protection or workers rights based on
the international labor laws and regulation. (UNIFEM)

There are many organization (international and national), which are

active in protecting rights and ensuring opportunities for workers. Some of
these organizations are taking frontline roles in sensitizing and advocating for
equal rights and opportunities for migrant workers. Such as womens right
focused UN agency, non government organization, the media academic and
civil society. (UNIFEM)

The growing concern at present is about the relationship between

migration, trafficking and HIV and AIDS. Migration for work is considered as a
first step in trafficking. It is commonly reported that poor village girls and
women are lured to migrate for jobs in cities within Nepal and in India. The
growing concern of HIV and AIDS has also been resisting women from
migrating, even though it is the male migration that is posing serious problem
in the spread of AIDS. (UNIFEM)

Ngo like forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), Paurakhi
Nepal, NIDS, Unifem, UN etc are working for the rights of migrant workers.
To sum up the involvement and actions of various organizations in relation to
womens rights and opportunities for foreign employment, one thing for
certain is that if it were not for their actions, the issues of migrant workers

18
would not be visible. Nevertheless, still more actions seems to be needed for
further research on many pertinent issues.

Chapter three: Methodology

3. Introduction

19
This chapter deals with the methodological aspects undertaken by the
researcher during the study on migrant workers and HIV and AIDS. The
chapter deals with the following

3.1 SELECTION OF THE STUDY AREA

3.1.1 Location Setting

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is the capital and largest city in
Nepal. Kathmandu is situated in a valley in the Himalayan foothills at an
altitude of 1350 meters. Along with other towns in valley, it ranks among the
oldest settlements in the central Himalaya. Kathmandu Metropolitan is spread
over an area of 50.76 sq. km. as computed from digital data collected by the
Kathmandu Valley Mapping Program. City can be separated into five sectors -
the Central Sector, East Sector, North Sector, City Core and West Sector.
Administratively, it is divided into thirty-five wards (KMC, 2005).

The study site of the research is STDH, Teku, Kathmandu metropolitan

city. That is Sukraraj tropical disease hospital. The place is familiar to the
researcher. The hospital has its own unit for HIV and AIDS.

3.2 Research design

The research design is descriptive and analytical in nature as it describes
all the facts. The description is about socio-economic condition of migrant
worker living with HIV and AIDS. Basically the source of household income,
working areas, awareness level, age, and sex of migrant workers has been
described.

The research design included both qualitative and quantitative

description. Quantitative description is achieved through the use of

20
questionnaire, structured interview. Qualitative research method was
developed in the social science to study social phenomena. It includes
observation. Thus the study analyses the data and examines the relationship
between different variables.

3.3 Source of Data

This research is based on socio-economic condition of migrant workers

living with HIV and Aids in Sept, 2008 which was complemented with
interview and observation. Information was collected from both primary and
secondary sources. Secondary data were collected from sources like books,
journals, published and unpublished reports.

The main part of the study is based on primary data which were
collected by interview and interacting with them using unstructured
questionnaire. The required primary data includes age, sex, marital status
family background, personal information and social status.

3.4 Sampling Procedure

As migrant workers living with HIV and Aids is the unit of analysis for
the study. The respondent is from the hospital, so the universe of the study is
Sukraraj tropical disease hospital, Teku. But the sample size of the study is
only 20, as it is very difficult to take interview with all migrant workers living
with HIV and Aids.

21
3.5 Data collection techniques

Qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected from both

primary and secondary sources. Particularly, primary data were collected
using following data generation techniques.

3.5.1 Observation of different organization

To do research on migrant workers living with HIV and Aids was quite
difficult task as this issue has been always put confidential in front of all. That
is why I selected 20 numbers of migrant workers.

I visited to different Ngos and Ingos, Hospital in search of Migrant

worker living with HIV to know about their socio-economic condition.
All necessary information was observed during daily visit to these
organizations and observing them.

3.5.2 Interview schedule

A set of open- ended interview schedule (see Annex) was prepared to

collect information from Migrant workers. Some semi structure and structured
question were questions were asked to get quantitative information like age,
sex, occupation and types of job they are doing and other. To obtain the
qualitative data behavior change among migrant workers and also of family,
society some open ended question were asked using this schedule.

22
 Primary data were collected from the migrant worker living with HIV
with the help of staff of the hospital. Before the questionnaire distribution,
researcher had briefed about the study and given questions in the schedule.

Secondary data were collected from published and unpublished

materials books, research articles and other relevant literature and reviewed
in order to make the study more meaningful and reliable.

3.6 Reliability and Validity of Data

The empirical techniques were applied in the study. To maintain the

reliability and validity of study, possible measures were used seriously. The
researcher is familiar to the sample area. The information was collected
through questionnaire, interview and observation methods.

3.7 Field experience

It was very risky and hard job for a researcher to do a whole research
alone with migrant workers living with HIV and AIDS. As we all know about
the issues of HIV and AIDS which has been rising day by day. The first HIV
positive case in Nepal was reported in 1988. Today majority number of people
from the different places of country has been suffering from the HIV and
AIDS.

As the researcher main objective was to find out the socio-economic

condition of migrant workers living with HIV and AIDS. Socio-economic status
refers the behavior, background of family, economic condition, supporters etc.
it was very difficult to deal with the respondents. As we all know, the issue of

23
HIV has been very confidential matter from the beginning. This is because of
the traditional society concept; people became afraid of interacting with HIV
infected. Another fact is that people being educated also feel somehow
hesitate dealing with them. This was observed during the time of interview. As
the sample of the study was at STDH, Teku, there were number of infected
people, who come over there for treatment. As all the HIV positive were not
migrant workers, it was giving problem in the study. As none of the
respondent was ready to talk with us, it was creating problem. As researcher
was new person for the entire respondent, so some of them were shying to
give answer. But finally after the visit of one and half week, we got succeeded
in completing our research.

During the time of research some of the respondent was very frank
and answered so easily. So as the whole this was great chance for researcher
to learn more about migrant workers living with HIV

3.8 Analysis of data

Data analysis is the process of making complicated things to

understandable by reducing them to their component parts, on the other
hand, making complicated things understandable by showing how their
components fit together according to some rules (Bernard, 1988). All the data
and information gathered through interview were checked, edited and coded
for internal consistency. Researcher had analyzed data by describing the
situation of problem and then had used the tools like tabulation, pie chart and
diagrams.

3.9 Limitation of the study

24
 Every research work has its own limitation and scope, so is the case
with the present study. The first was the limitation of time and finance.
As this research was to fulfill our academic requirement we had to
work in our own limit,
HIV and AIDS is very rare case, so there were difficulty while dealing
with those workers who are migrants we had to take care of certain things
during survey times.
Another was that there was limitation in the number of respondents as
well duration of time is short, there will be no applicable report.

Chapter four: Data presentation and analysis

4. Data analysis
The information collected from the field presentation and analyzed
under this chapter.

25
 This chapter mainly deals with important finding such as sex-age
structure and analysis of socio-economic characteristics such as occupation of
family head, living ways, behaviors among family, society, colleagues, and
economic status such as occupation of the respondents, status job etc.

Socio-economic characteristics
The study was conducted with 20 migrant workers living with HIV
Positive. Among 20 respondents, 70% were male and 30% were female.

4.1 Background of the Respondent

To analyze the characteristics of the respondent here researcher have tried

to analyze the basic characteristics of the respondent which consist of age
group, Sex.

4.1.1 Composition of respondents by Age Group

In the group there was migrant workers .of various age group. The
migrant workers with whom the interview was taken was from the age group
of 23-33. The table shows that out of the total number, the majority of
respondents were male.

Figure 1: age group

26
Source: Field survey

The table shows that 70% are the male and 30 percent are the female
group.
Age group
Table no. 4
Age group Male (%) Female (%)

20-25 14.2 33.3

25-30 42.8 50

30-35 42.8 16.6

Source: Field survey

4.1.2. Composition by sex

The pie chart shows that among the total number of respondents, the number
of the male is higher in majority than that of female and that is 30% female
and 70% is male.

Figure 2: sex group

27
Source: Field survey

4.1.3 Education

The combination of the group varies by various people with their reasoning
power as per their level of education. The group has their own level of
educated people; some were still continuing their studies and some left it at
very beginning.

4.2 Family status

Source of income of the family is also important to push workers to do

something extra to improve family living standard

4.2.1 Composition of respondents by Family occupation

Table no.5
Occupation Frequency Percentage
Shop 2 10
Service 2 10
Agriculture 10 50
Not Defined 6
28 30
100.0
Total 20
Source: Field survey

Figure 3: family occupation

Source: Field survey

The table shows that maximum number of the respondents family

has been doing agriculture as occupation. The study revealed different
prominent occupation of the respondents family. The occupation was shop
(10%), Service (10%), Agriculture (50%) and at last 30% of the respondent
had not defined the occupation of their family

4.2.2 Composition of respondent with whom they are living

Family plays vital role in encouraging the infected person. If one of the
members of family is infected by HIV then it is responsibility of their family to
help them in living.

Figure 4: living position

29
 Source: Field survey

On the basis of with whom they are living 20% of the respondent are
involve indifferent Ngo, 15%with husband and majority of the respondent that
is 65% living with their family. Most of the respondents are living with their
family and they are also engage with different organization.

4.3 Economic status

Economic condition is one of the major parts of the family and their success in
modern society.Most of the people after getting infected; they are
discriminated by many people. So there might be difficulty in living their way
of life. Today at many offices people dominates HIV infected and they did not
want them to work in their office or they put them at lower job. They were
confined in between their family head like parents, husband/wife, sons and
daughters. So below are the composition of economical supporter and their
economy style.

4.3.1 Composition of respondent by Occupation

Table no.6

Occupation Frequency Percentage

30
 Volunteering 10 75

Depends on family 2 10
Self dependent 3 15

Total 100

Source: Field survey

Figure 5: occupation of respondents

Source: Field survey

4.3.2 Composition on the basis of Job according to qualification

Figure 6: job qualification

Source: Field survey

31
As most of the migrant workers are working as volunteer at different I/Ngos,
and some at press also, so 70 percent said that they are very happy with their
job and they think that according to their will they are doing this. But very
less (30%) did not defined and also some said that they want something
better job for them according to their qualification.

4.3.2 Composition on basis of Occupation enough for living

Figure 7: occupations for living

Source: Field survey

The above bar diagram shows that whether the occupation that migrant
workers are doing is enough for living or not. While asking with them we got
answer equally that is 50 percent said yes and 50 percent said no to the
questionnaire

4.3.3 Composition on basis of respondents Economic supporter

Figure 8: economic supporter

32
Source: Field survey

Above pi chart shows that majority of the respondent (90%) have

economic supporter for their living and only 10 percent said that there are no
any economic supporter for them. Most of them were involved in different
organization so they are some how helping them.

4.3.4 Composition on basis of Economic problem respondent

getting
Figure 9: economic problems

Source: Field survey

As the interviewed respondent were from different occupation so most of the

respondent who were student answer that they had some difficulties in living,

33
as they were dependent on their family. 75percentsaid that they had problem
and 25 percent said no.

4.4 Social Status

4.4.1 Composition on the basis of behavior respondent get
Figure 10: social behavior

Source: Field survey

Among the total number of respondents, 80 percent of the migrant worker

getting normal behavior from their colleagues and other 20 percent
respondents getting very supportive behavior from their friends. They are
helping them in their all works.

4.4.2 Composition of respondent on their first reaction on family

Figure 11: reaction from family

34
Source: Field survey

The above doughnut shows that 90% of the respondents were not accepted
for the first time in their family and they did not get any support from them,
and very less respondents (10%) got supportive reaction for the first time as
they thought that its ok what they could do now. So everyone had a different
view.

4.4.3 Composition on basis of support that they get from family

Figure 12: support from family

Source: Field survey

During the interview, respondent were feeling very uneasy as its the
matter of HIV so they were not answering very openly. Among the total

35
number, 25 percent of respondent get support from the family, 25 percent did
not gave any reaction on support from family and majority of people (25%)
said no to the question. They said that they are doing every thing by
themselves.

4.4.4 Composition on the basis of difficulties that their family getting

Figure 13: difficulties for family

Source: Field surve

HIV and AIDS is the burning issue in the world today so it is very
difficult to take the condition easily. While talking to our society, most of the
society is running in traditional way. So according to the respondent their
family are getting some how facing problem. From the above pie chart
among total, majority of respondents family (75%) is getting many difficulties
while dealing with other and very less percent (25%) are not getting any
difficulties.

4.4.5 Composition of Problem in marriage life

Figure 14: problems in marriage life

36
 Source: Field survey
The above doughnut shows that majority of the migrant workers(90%) said
that they are not getting any problem in married life, as many of them were
not married, and only 10 percent of the respondent said that they sometime
had to face difficulties. As we all know that HIV is the serious issue and
everyone must have knowledge on it.

4.4.6 Composition on basis of Behavior from society

Figure 15: behavior getting

Source: Field survey

37
 According to our traditional society, people once get HIV are of no use,
they are just the burden of the country. So they always dominate people
instead of supporting. While asking about the behavior from the society, most
of the migrant workers (60%) answer that they get normal behavior from
society, and 40 percent said that the society around them are unknown about
their infection and some behave very rudely to them.

4.5 Knowledge before infection

Figure 16: knowledge on HIV

Source: Field survey

38
 As all the migrant workers were came from different countries after
infection, so while we asked them about the knowledge on HIV and AIDS, 40
percent said that they were unknown about the fact and 60 percent said yes
they knew about the issue. Today in world, very most of the people have
knowledge on HIV and AIDS, but in other side at rural area of country, many
people are unknown about the issue.

4.5.1 Observation and suggestion regarding HIV and AIDS

On the question that what is your observation regarding HIV infection,
the respondent reply as below:
People should use condom before sex
Sex should be limited to their wife/husband
It should not be hidden because later it gives trouble
No hesitation should be shown
Sterilized syringe
Blood test at the case of accident .etc

4.5.2 Respondents linked with organization

Table no.7
Organization Frequency

NAPN 4

Sparsha Nepal 13

Sathi Samuha 3

Source: Field survey

4.5.3 In the last question what are your future plans, most of the
respondents want to do volunteer at the same organization where they are

39
working, and they are doing awareness program. Other remaining said that
they want another job according to their qualification. So they also told that
there should be effective plan and policies for them by government.

4.6 Majority findings

Majority number of interviewed people were male and less were female,
While analyzing data, we found that most of the groups were from the age
group of 25-30.

Most of the respondents family background was found on agriculture. More

than 50 percent are doing agriculture. And remaining are at service and some
have their own shop. This shows that most of the respondents are from rural
areas.

Majority number of respondents is living with their family. But we found that
though some of the respondents are living with their family, their family is
unknown about their infection.

It is found that most of the respondents are student and they had completed
their study from abroad. So they also told that the cause of their infection is
drug. They use to take drug by injection. Now after return to their home,
some are involved in different NGOs and some are self dependent, and doing
job at different office.

Most of the migrant workers were involved in different I/Ngos, working as

volunteer and some are paid also. Such as NAPN, Sparsha nepal, paourakhi.
They are doing the awareness program.

40
Some of the respondents being educated also hesitate to talk about the issue
and they think that being a HIV infected is cursed to their family, society. So
we were feeling so difficulty in dealing with them. But some were so frank and
told about their infection.

Today still some society is at backward, so they dominate their colleagues,

neighbor who is infected. This was known at time of interview. Some of the
respondents family is so strict that they told not to live together with them.
So they are now involved at organization.

From the beginning of our traditional society, HIV infected people are not
accepted at any cost. But today at some places mostly at urban society there
is more acceptance of this fact and people being educated agree that HIV
infected should be treated well. Some of the respondent told that they are not
happy with their recent job, as they have to suffer from many difficulties and
their job does not suit as to qualification. But most of the respondent said that
they are happy and satisfied with their job and they are well treat.

So to say in short we can conclude by saying that the study on migrant

workers living with HIV and AIDS goes totally satisfied to the researcher. The
major task of the study was to find out socio-economic condition of migrant
workers. From the whole study we can say that today very less number of
people is unknown about the issue of HIV and AIDS. So we can conclude like
this:

Social status
With reference to the survey the status of migrant workers who has just
return from the abroad due to their infection have improved their social
condition some how with the increased in literacy rate of our country. People

41
have now knowledge about HIV and AIDS, so they treat well to those infected
person but at some backward part of our country there still need to flow
education about the issue. According to respondents, most of them are
getting supportive and normal behavior from their family and society.

Economic status
Not only social condition but also social condition of a person also makes lots
of differences in daily life activities. As most of the respondents were
dependent on volunteering at different organization, so their economic
condition are not so supportive. For this one main cause is not getting any
support from their family and their office seeing their qualification. So all
should be given equal opportunity in getting job, which is according to
respondents.

Chapter five: Impact on individual, family and communities

sand empowering them

5.1 Impact on individual

At the personal level, rising healthcare costs, loss of jobs and stigma and
discrimination can cripple their lives. In addition, they are also burdened with
the blame for spreading HIV - both for bringing HIV into the host countries
and for taking it back to the countries of their origin. Studies in the region
also illustrate that lack of legal rights in host countries leaves them extremely

42
vulnerable to discriminatory practices such as forced testing, violence and
deportation.

5.2 Impact on family

Families of HIV-positive persons are often led to a life of impoverishment as
household incomes diminish with a spurt in health care expenditure. Further,
the stigma of having an HIV-positive person in the family leads to
discrimination and ostracism by the community. It has also been observed
that the lack of information creates a vicious cycle of transmission of the virus
to partners back home. Many children in the region have been orphaned.

5.3 Communities and Nations

The effects are not limited to the individual and the family alone. Communities
experience a waning of income flows, affecting their development. National
economic development also gets hampered in the wake of HIV as countries
bear the increased burden of health care expenditure, coupled with a fall in
migrant remittances. Moreover, as in the case of the community, it is a loss of
valuable human resource and social capital.

5.4 Empowering Migrants

Safe mobility, in essence, is migration of people based on informed

choices and reducing the risks on their way. Informed choices begin with the
basic ability of people to decide whether to migrate at all or not. To make this
feasible, there should be increased avenues for livelihoods in their host
societies, better social and gender equality, less distress situations, not to

43
mention conflicts and various forms of discrimination. Efforts on this count will
prepare the ground for a sustainable, multi-sectoral response.

Another important step is to empower potential migrants with

information and services that make migration safer, free from exploitation and
situations that make them vulnerable to HIV at source, transit and destination
areas. This includes providing them with information about the situation in
destination areas, the opportunities, services and networks available. HIV
information and services specifically to prevent HIV infection should be an
integral part of this effort. Studies and experience of working with migrants in
the field have shown that faced with challenges for survival, migrants do not
see HIV as a priority issue. Therefore, the information and services on HIV
should be part of an integrated package that also addresses other vital needs
such as livelihoods, shelter, banking and health care. Special emphasis has to
be given to make the outreach efforts innovative and effective owing to the
displaced status of migrants, particularly in the case of those who are
undocumented. (Mobility and migration)

In view of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, there is an increasing need for

treatment and care at the destination and source areas. Voluntary counseling
and testing services, treatment for opportunistic infections and referral for
antiretroviral treatment are the elements that should form part of a
comprehensive treatment and care plan (mobility and migration).

44
 Chapter six: Summary and conclusion

6.1 Summary
The present study deals with the socio-economic condition, the life style of the
migrant workers living with HIV and AIDS from the SukraRaj tropical disease
hospital,Teku. It is known fact that Nepali Labor migrants are scattered
around the world. Labor Migration is a predominant feature, both in terms of
its long history as well as in terms of migrants involved. Such as the number
of Labor migration working in India accounts 600,000 to 3 million. (Dixit,
1997, Dahal, 2000, Graner and Gurung, 2003)

45
 Migration is a kind of mobility behavior of human beings that can be
classified according to motive, distance and duration. It can be classified into
two major types: internal and international. Both of them are temporary and
permanent. (Janawali,2004) the basic focus of the study is those migrant
workers who return back to their own country but they are infected with HIV
and now what is their socio-economic condition. The entire result of the study
was based on the field work with application of field survey by interview
schedule, key informant interviews in practice.

The primary data were collected from the observation of different

organization and hospitals by open-ended interviews within 1 month.
Quantitative data were edited, coded processed, analyzed. The qualitative
changes not captured by quantitative assessment were analyzed by
qualitative analysis. In this chapter, it is tried to synthesize the finding of this
inquiry with the hope of usefulness to other next generation.
Its not a choice; its our reality, our necessity. Talk to those who go abroad
for employment and most echo this sentiment. Every year, hundreds of
thousands of Nepali men and women flock abroad in search of better
opportunities. Annually, Nepal receives more than 100 billions rupees in
remittances from these migrants, and it is estimated that women migrants
make 11 percent of this contribution.

In the tales of migrant workers who have successfully, upgraded their

lifestyle and that of their families, we often forget the heavy price that they
had to pay for it. We forget to probe into or simply choose to underplay their
dire working conditions, difficulties they had to face, physical and
psychological adjustments they had to undertake. Foreign employment has
empowered many women by enabling them to support their families. Many

46
returnees have made immense contribution to society and have shared their
skills and knowledge to empower others. But amidst these successes, we
cannot ignore the horrors that some people had to go through in foreign lands
exploitation by employers and recruiting companies, and also stories of many
who were compelled to re- migrate unable to integrate back into society.

The research was completely based on the field survey and interview with all
involved and not involved person of the society. This was mainly based on the
fieldwork to get conclusion and objective of the study. Going through whole
study researcher thinks that researcher is completely satisfied with the study.
The study gave us the whole necessary fact that was to be finding out as to
match our objectives.

Most of the all migrant workers interviewed were from rural area. Some went
to abroad to continue their study and some in the search of work to improve
their economic condition. From the interviewed migrant workers, we came to
know that most of the female groups were sex workers and remaining very
few got infected because of their husband. Among the male group, some were
infected because of the drug injected in their body and some were infected
due to visit to other female sex workers and other reasons which was not
described.

The number of male workers were high than female workers because during
the interview time the female group were hesitating. Most of the respondents
were found working at different organization to live their life. But most of the
migrant workers are getting many problems in their daily life activities such
as: 1domination from the society, family and colleagues, 2.not equal
response to normal people and to those who are infected, 3.families have to
suffer from many challenges while dealing with relatives, 4.they have to
sacrifice many things to fulfill their daily life activities, 5.very few number are
getting family support beside that very less thinks that everyone should be

47
given equal opportunities as they are not getting proper support from their
family, job and also the government of our country.

6.2 conclusion

HIV/AIDS is no longer only a health issue; it is also a development issue.

Tackling the epidemic will require not only prevention and control of HIV
infection among vulnerable and risk groups, but a multi-sectoral approach
addressing the lack of access by risk groups to health care and education and
recognition of the populations at risk. People living with HIV and AIDS should
be brought to the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS .Family members;
local communities, civil society organizations, donors, and the government all
have their own important role to play. The status of women must change so
that they are considered autonomous individuals who can make their own
decisions.

As with all international declarations on HIV/AIDS, there is an absolute need

to take a strong human rights approach to combating the epidemic. This
approach includes recognizing fundamental rights such as access to health
care and information, addressing gender equity, and a concerted effort to
reduce sex trafficking. It further requires addressing the root causes of
poverty and inequality, which give rise to the phenomenon of migration and
trafficking as well as propagate violent uprisings. Only such efforts will prevail
in mitigating the effects of both HIV and conflict in Nepal.

While completing the research the finding helps more in getting objective of
the study. The essential things of the research were to find the positive and
negative aspect of migration. From this research, researcher got conclusion
that today in our country most of the people are known about HIV and AIDS

48
and they are flowing information about the issue. Migrant workers who leave
their country to improve their socio- economic condition are behaving very
badly at abroad. So they have to work at harsh condition at any cost and
condition. This is one other cause due to which today in world the number of
HIV is getting high.

The government must recognize and acknowledge the needs of high-risk

groupsdrug users, commercial sex workers, migrant workers, and men who
have sex with men. Plans to create more behavior changes are needed within
these groups. The 20022006 HIV/AIDS strategy proposed by the
government, which adopts a multisectoral approach focusing on prevention
among vulnerable groups, on control, care and support, and on voluntary
counseling, hopes to address some of these issues.

HIV/AIDS is no longer only a health issue; it is also a development issue.

Tackling the epidemic will require not only prevention and control of HIV
infection among vulnerable and risk groups, but a multi-sectoral approach
addressing the lack of access by risk groups to health care and education and
recognition of the populations at risk. People living with HIV and AIDS should
be brought to the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Family members,
local communities, civil society organizations, donors, and the government all
have their own important role to play. The status of women must change so
that they are considered autonomous individuals who can make their own
decisions.

As with all international declarations on HIV/AIDS, there is an

absolute need to take a strong human rights approach to combating the
epidemic. This approach includes recognizing fundamental rights such as
access to health care and information, addressing gender equity, and a
concerted effort to reduce sex trafficking. It further requires addressing the
root causes of poverty and inequality, which give rise to the phenomenon of

49
migration and trafficking as well as propagate violent uprisings. Only such
efforts will prevail in mitigating the effects of both HIV and conflict in Nepal.
And also there should be effective plan and policies for those migrant workers
living with HIV, who are living at very risk condition. A disease that was once
considered too alien for Nepal's traditional society has become a real threat.
We must take the initiative to prevent HIV infections among migrant workers.
Since migration is required to boost economic activities, we must prepare a
strategy to generate awareness among these workers," says Dr. Ram Hari
Aryal, a leading demographer. (Keshab Poudel)

From the whole study we can say that there is still need to improve the
socio-economic condition of the respondents. There must be equal
opportunity for all migrant workers.

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UNDP ( 2006) Human development report

UNDP (2008) mobility and migration

UNIFEM (Author/editor, D cunha, program manager, empowering women

migrant workers in Asia: a briefing kit) 2002

UNIFEM (Women Migrant Workers - Gender Issues Women, Poverty &

Economics)

UNIFEM (Migrant Women in Search of Decent Jobs, 2005 World Summit,

1416 September 2005.)

Wyss, S. (2002): organization and finance international labor migration,

Nepal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS)

Website
1. http://www.nepalmonitor.com
2. Glossary Migrant UNESCO SHS.htm
3. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
4. http://www.nccusa.org/publicwitness/mtolive/boycott

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Annex
Questionnaire
(To be asked to migrant workers)

A) General Information
Name:
Caste/ethnicity:
Religion:

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 From (district)
Age:
Sex:
Education:
Marital Status:
Interview date:

B) Socio-economic Information

1. What is your historical (Family) occupation?

2. With whom you are living at present?

3. What are you doing nowadays? Specify your occupation

4. What kind of behavior do you get from your colleagues?

5. What was the first reaction oh your family after knowing?

6. What type of support are you getting from your family?

7. Does your family feel any difficulties because of your infection? If yes
what kind of.

8. What does your kin-group expect from you?

9. Are you getting any difficulties in your marriage life?

10. What kind of behavior/ reaction do you get from your society?

11. Do you get job according to your skill/will?

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 12. Is your occupation enough for your livelihood?

13. Are their any economic supporters for you?

14. What kind of economic problem are you facing?

15. Did you had any knowledge about HIV and AIDS before you have been
infected?

16. Mention your observation regarding HIV infection.

17. What are the suggestions for coming generation?

18. Are you linked with any organization?

19. Are you doing any work to aware people about HIV and AIDS?

20. What are your future plans?

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56