Exploring risk perceptions and protective behaviours in relation to HIV/AIDS among wives and partners of migrant workers in the rural areas of Lesotho

Abstract

This mini-dissertation presents a discussion of the qualitative study exploring risk perceptions and protective behaviours in relation to HIV/AIDS among wives and partners of migrant workers in the rural areas of Lesotho. The sample consists of 30 wives of migrant workers who stay in two rural districts of Lesotho being Teyateyaneng and Quthing. An explorative qualitative research design was used. Two methods were used to gather data for the research study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individual participants, and focus group sessions were also carried out in both districts. Participants were selected purposively and through snow ball sampling. Interview questions for both the semi-structured interviews and for the focus group session consisted of themes relating to how Basotho wives of migrant workers perceive risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and what protective behaviours they adopt in order to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS. The results show that many participants had knowledge on issues of HIV/AIDS and therefore perceived risk of contracting it especially with their spouses living away from home where they may be engaging in risky sexual behaviours. Even though Basotho wives of migrant workers in this present study perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, they did not adopt any preventive measures against contracting HIV/AIDS. As per the study findings, the wives of migrant workers were not able to adopt preventive measures against contracting HIV/AIDS even though they were aware of the risk of contracting it was because of socio-cultural norms and practices that gave the men power to make decisions in their marriages, even in relation to sexual matters. Findings further show that some Basotho wives of migrant workers did not perceive themselves to be at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS due to lack of knowledge on the issues of HIV/AIDS and therefore failed to undertake the necessary preventive measures. The mini-dissertation is concluded with a chapter that outlines the conclusions and limitations related to the study, and on this basis, several recommendations were proposed for future research and practical application of the findings. Some of these recommendations indicate that future studies should not only be conducted in rural areas, but should also be broadened to urban areas because many wives of migrant workers have left their rural homes and have migrated to work as domestic workers and in factories. Such studies should also seek to determine whether the barriers to adopting preventive measures against contracting HIV/AIDS by wives and partners of migrant workers who are now employed and earning an income still exist; and whether these barriers (if they exist) are similar or different to that of the wives who remain unemployed in their rural homes. It is also suggested that future studies employ different methods of data collection which will enable participants to share freely their experiences, opinions and views on this sensitive phenomenon