Social Support and HIV Risks Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Market Workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Migration processes are listed within the primary factors facilitating the heterosexual spread of HIV. The study examines the relationship between social support, sexual HIV risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 1342 male migrant and non-migrant market workers from Barakholka Market in Almaty, Kazakhstan.


RESULTS
(1) higher level of perceived social support [Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Social Support Instrument (ESSI score)] was associated with a lower likelihood of having sex with a female sex worker (FSW) [OR = 0.952 (0.927, 0.978) p < .001]; (2) higher availability of friends was associated with a higher likelihood of having STIs [OR = 1.244 (1.007, 1.537), p < .05]; (3) larger network size was associated with a higher likelihood of having STIs [OR = 1.201 (1.026, 1.407), p < .05]; (4) loneliness was associated with an increased likelihood of having unprotected sex with any female partner [RR = 1.102 (1.027, 1.182), p < .05]. Results suggest that social support factors should be considered as a component of HIV and STI prevention programs for male migrant workers from Central Asia in Kazakhstan.
['Mergenova|Gaukhar|G|0000-0003-4702-1944', 'Shaw|Stacey A|SA|', 'Terlikbayeva|Assel|A|', 'Gilbert|Louisa|L|', 'Gensburg|Lenore|L|', 'Primbetova|Sholpan|S|', 'El-Bassel|Nabila|N|']
D000328:Adult D015658:HIV Infections D000073599:Health Risk Behaviors D006801:Humans D007623:Kazakhstan D008297:Male D060386:Sex Workers D012725:Sexual Behavior D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases D012944:Social Support D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D014171:Transients and Migrants D055815:Young Adult
Social support Migrant Kazakhstan Loneliness Central Asia Sexual risk behavior