Forced migration and hiv/aids risks in Angola

This study examines HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of forced migrants in Luanda, Angola by comparing them with those of voluntary migrants and long-time city residents. The study uses data from a survey of 1081 men and women conducted in 2004 in two suburban municipalities of Luanda. One of the municipalities has a large share and the other a small share of the forced migrant population. The analysis detects differences between forced migrants and the other groups in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes, but these differences are explained away by the demographic characteristics and socio-economic disadvantages of forced migrants. With respect to behaviour, we find that regardless of other characteristics forced migrant men are more likely to engage in practices that may lead to increased HIV risks than long-time male city dwellers. The differences between forced and voluntary male migrants show the same tendency but are not statistically significant. While women overall are less likely to engage in potentially risky practices than men, differences among women in the three migration-status groups are not as pronounced as among men.