Interplay between economic empowerment and sexual behaviour and practices of migrant workers within the context of HIV and AIDS in the Lesotho textile industry

Abstract

Economic empowerment brings with it a wide range of consequences, both positive and negative. The objective of this paper was to examine the relationship between economic empowerment and the sexual behaviour and practices of migrant workers within the context of HIV and AIDS in the Lesotho textile industry. Data for this paper were extracted from the findings of a larger study which had been conducted concerning HIV and AIDS in the textile industry in Lesotho. Using in-depth interviews, data were collected from 40 participants who were purposively selected from five factories which had been chosen randomly. Empowerment theory was used as a lens to provide meanings for the experiences of the participants. The findings show that the participants were empowered only in certain respects in terms of Kabeer's empowerment model of ‘power to’ and ‘power within’, on one hand, and in terms of Malhotra's comprehensive empowerment framework at the household level, on the other, as being employed in the industry enabled them to participate in the economy. Employment in the sector provided the participants with the means to be able to acquire basic needs and the ability to participate in household decision-making: for the female participants, the ability to make independent sexual decisions was also enhanced. These improvements were greeted enthusiastically, particularly by the female participants, given their previously disadvantaged status as a result of coming from rural patriarchal villages with gender-defined hegemonic notions of respectability. The findings also indicate that environmental factors and others, such as meagre salaries, encouraged some of the female workers to engage in transactional sex, while some of the male participants tended to increase their sexual relationships as a result of acquiring employment and income from the industry. It is the contention of the authors of this study that true empowerment requires both vital resources and individual and collective participation, particularly for the women, who are more vulnerable than men. Finally, we conclude that the opportunities provided by economic empowerment have given the participants a new social meaning for their situation and an awareness about their place in power relations.

HIV/AIDS and older adults in Cameroon: Emerging issues and implications for caregiving and policy-making

“…( 2010 ) addressed both economic and health impacts of caregiving to orphans and results revealed that there were significant transfers of funds from the government and families to older adults caring for orphans, but the older adults still had health and financial problems as a result of taking care of their ill children. Studies on community reaction related to older aged caregivers and their families (Knodel, Williams, Kim, Puch, & Saengtienchai, 2010 ; Tanga & Tangwe, 2014 ; Tanyi & Okoye, 2014 ) revealed a mixture of positive and negative reactions present but that positive support from others in the community was often dominant. This finding is contrary to common portrayals that predominantly emphasis the negative aspects associated with HIV/AIDS (Li et al., 2008 ; Møller & Erstad, 2007 ).…”

HIV Prevalence and Risk Behaviours Among Foreign Migrant Women Residing in Cape Town, South Africa

“…Migration has been shown to be a key risk factor for HIV acquisition in populations around the world [1–3]. However, different types of migrating populations are not homogenous in their risk profiles.…”

Economic Context and HIV Vulnerability in Adolescents and Young Adults Living in Urban Slums in Kenya: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Scarcity Theory

“…For example, in Uganda, Kenya, and Lesotho, studies have shown that young women increased supply of sex to acquire luxury goods, such as mobile phones and high-priced clothing [10, 29], but had greater choice whether to use a condom or engage in sex or not when earning salary through employment [76]. In Nigeria, a study also found that attempts to mitigate food deprivation partly explained slum adolescent girls’ engaging in risky sexual behaviors [77].…”

“…The observation that men have more non-sexual opportunities to earn income has been documented in Mozambique and Haiti [28, 78], and was also described among our youth in Kenya. There has been some evidence as well suggesting that young men in Lesotho increased demand for sex partners once obtaining employment or income [76], and that economic hardship for Zimbabwean men diminished their capacity to support sexual relationships [79]. Research has also shown that while cost barriers persist in accessing discounted and free male condoms among low-wage users [21, 80], the cost of female condoms is approximately twelve times greater than male ones and often unaffordable for low-income consumers who find them acceptable to use [81].…”