Male migrant hotel workers’ marital status and female sex workers contact linkage:a micro level study in Tamil nadu

Background: Migration is found to be an important transmission mode of HIV infection mainly through unsafe sex with Female Sex Workers. Many workers have chances and choices to get FSWs. If sex behaviour is unsafe with FSWs, there will be more likely for HIV risk. Keeping the above in view, an attempt is made to find the relationship between the marital status and Female sex workers contact of male workers in hotels of Chennai and Madurai Districts of Tamil Nadu. Methods: The data base of this study is ICSSR-funded research project on Sexual behaviour and HIV risk among hotel male migrant worker in Tamil Nadu: An assessment. The sample respondents (581) with their marital status have been chosen for this study purpose. Results: The respondents who have ever had sex with Female Sex Workers in last one year prior to this study constitute about 21.3 percent, among them 48.4 percent are married 51.6 are single respondents. Single respondents have more multiple FSW partners than married. Condom used is very less among married respondents than single while the sexual encounter with FSWs. Conclusion: In conclusion, the pattern of migration influences premarital/extramarital sexual behaviour of the migrant labourers and enhances HIV risk chances through unsafe sex in an absence of condom use. In addition to a focus on high risk group, it could also be extended to improve the knowledge and enhance access to services to the general population and rural population. This will put the programme on the right track.