[Role Of Emigration In The Spread Of HIV Infection In The Region Of Kayes, Mali].

Aim: To determine the impact of emigration on HIV transmission in the Kayes region.

Patients And Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2007 in the Hospital of Kayes. A total of 109 subjects were included - all participants were over 14 years old and were diagnosed as HIV positive. The variables studied were knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS, the notion of traveling outside of Mali and emigration. Pearson Chi and Fisher test were used for a bivariate analysis.

Results: The female/male sex ratio was of 2.51. In this data pool, 32.3% (10/31) of men were emigrants. More than a third 37.2% (29/78) of women had an emigrant as a sexual partner. There was no significant difference in the levels of knowledge regarding HIV between emigrants and those who never went abroad. The likelihood of having had relations with a sex worker in the preceding 12 months was nine times higher for an emigrant than to a non-emigrant [OR=9.13, CI 95% (2.20 - 37.84)].

Unlabelled: An emigrant was five times more likely to have at least two sexual partners [OR=5.11, CI 95% (1.37-18.94)].

Conclusion: This study showed that emigration is an important factor regarding the spread of HIV in the region of Kayes Mali. Sensitization of the candidates to emigration must be reinforced.