Browsing by Author "Abdallah, Ally-Kebby"

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    Assessment of Migration and Sexual Behaviour Change;a case study of Mererani in Manyara region, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2014) Abdallah, Ally-Kebby
    This study was undertaken in Merani Tanzanite mining area in Simanjiro district. Manyara Region in Tanzania. It covered 7 artisanal mining sites that are in Merani and Naisinyai villages. The main objective of the study was to establish a link between migration to mining areas and sexual behavior change to risky ones that may pre-dispose a migrant to HIV infection. Multiple research methodologies were used. They included literature survey on behavior change theories and field experiences from worldwide on mobility of miners and HIV transmission, key informant interview of government and non-governmental stuff involved in HIV awareness raising, voluntary counseling, testing and treatment initiatives in Mererani. Direct field observation of mining activities, social interactions, amusement sites and sanitation conditions; health education materials such as billboards and posters displayed at the sites was also undertaken. Questionnaire interview was undertaken and 160 individuals (138 males, 22 females) were covered interviewed in privacy. The finding of the study are in agreement with observations of other scholars that in general mobile populations like artisanal miners are at risk of HIV/AIDS and that mining sites have localized high rates of HIV infection compared to non-mining sites as people engaged in risky sexual behaviors. This also applies in non-mining sites as people in Mererani as HIV prevalence rate in Mererani. Tanzanite mining site was reported higher (30 percent 0 than the district rate (20 percent) and that of the Region in general (2 percent) .Artisanal and service providers in Mererani reported engaging in risky sexual behaviours of having unsafe sexual intercourse intercourse with multiple partners including workers, casual partners or when they cohabit with new comers without testing for HIV. This study concludes that in general, mobility alone cannot solely be blamed for high HIV/AIDS rates since 89 percent of those born within Mererani area and 90 percent of migrants born outside the area reported to have changed Behaviour to risky ones. The study recommends scaling up of Behaviour changed intervention programmes for Mererani. This calls for utilization of mixed but integrated educational methods with convincing educational messages tailored to the needs of the different mining and non-mining (service providers) target groups; to engage local tribal, group leaders, local government staff and politicians as change agents in advocacy; to discourage harmful traditional practices and risky sexual behaviours through continuous health education aimed at promoting self-efficacy for adoption and sust health education aimed at promoting self-efficacy for adoption and sustenance of health promotive behaviours.