Characteristics of Short-Term Mobility and Sexual Behavior in Accra, Ghana

Susan L. Cassels, University of Washington
Samuel Jenness, University of Washington

Migrants are often viewed as having high-risk sexual behavior, but the association between short-term mobility and behavior can be confounded by the qualities of movement, destination, and reason. Additionally, cross-sectional studies are often unable to align episodes of mobility with sexual behavior outcomes. We use data from the Migration & HIV in Ghana (MHG) study, a cross--sectional study of sexually active adults in Agbogbloshie, Ghana in 2012, combining 1-year retrospective relationship history calendar with frequency, duration, destination and reasons for travel in the last year to test associations between mobility and sexual behavior. Mobility was common in our study population, with 75% of men and 78% of women reporting overnight travel in the last year. Additionally, 35% of men and 6.5% of women reported a concurrent sexual partnership. We find that the relationship between short-term mobility and sexual risk behavior differs significantly by sex of the migrant as well as destination.