Male Migrants and Sexual Risk Behaviour: A Case Study of Rawalpindi District

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the risky sexual behaviour among male migrants in the Commercial Market of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It is well-known for housing migrant men.1 living apart from their families. Migrants in this study refer to men who spend most of their time away from their homes or natal families and reside in urban areas within their own country. The migrants usually move from rural to urban areas for better educational and job opportunities, enduring challenging living conditions. A compact living environment shared with migrants from diverse sociocultural and lingual backgrounds forges a novel migrant identity within a distinct physical and cultural milieu. Thus, the behaviour of these migrants is shaped by exposure to this new environment as they integrate into a newfangled community of migrants with their unique cultural and normative behaviours. Consequently, this leads them to indulge in risky sexual behaviour and greater exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study employed anthropological research methods to determine the risky sexual behaviour of migrant men through key informant interviews, participant observation, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and case studies. The primary objective of this study encompasses identifying the dynamic patterns of high-risk sexual behaviour, understanding the various ways migrant men access sexual services in the research community, comprehending the experiences of migrant men in the formation of new migrant identities and engagement in risky sexual behaviour, evaluating the influence of masculinity on risky sexual behaviour among migrant men and assessing the knowledge and awareness of migrant men regarding STIs and HIV, along with their health-seeking behaviour. This study also explores how traditional normative behaviour and familial obligations prohibit people from engaging in risky behaviours. However, 1 Concerning this study, "migrant" refers to men who spend most of their time away from their marital or natal families in urban areas within their own country. These migrants move from rural to urban areas for improved livelihood or education (Choi et al., 2004; Coast, 2006) also agree with this definition. These men often visit their native homes to reunite with their families, typically after a few weeks or months. xix when they migrate to new environments within the cities, they emerge with a new culture that leads them to engage in risky sexual behaviours. The findings revealed that in the new environment, migrant men are more likely to engage in sexual encounters and substance use because they lead independent lives away from their families. Migrant men's exposure to societal bias, familial dissatisfaction, and a uniform migrant culture with shared characteristics and a distinct identity propels them to seek multiple sexual partners, engage in unprotected sex and become more vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, the study indicated that all STIs carry a social stigma and the use of condoms during non-marital sexual encounters.2 is low due to condom unavailability during unplanned sexual encounters, the concern of diminished sexual pleasure and various other contributing factors. Migrant men are driven towards unhygienic and unsafe environments to find affordable locations for sexual activities. Non-sexual behaviours such as tattooing, poor hygiene practices, using unsterilized tools in barber shops etc. and using injection drugs also keep them at risk of STIs. The migrant men's compromised living conditions, detached from traditional normative and familial obligations, coupled with the availability of non-marital and non-marital sexual opportunities and less adaptive health-seeking behaviours, confer a distinctive identity upon them. This research also examines the behaviour of the male migrant community, highlighting that female or hijra sex partners lack the empowerment to negotiate protection during sex. Peer pressure compels individuals to adopt masculine behaviour, promoting more sexual encounters and keeping multiple non-marital sexual relationships as symbols of masculinity. The prevalence of unprotected sex is notably high among the researched community. The majority of respondents resort to unqualified providers for STI treatment. Furthermore, early sexual debut among young men increases the risk of engaging in unsafe sexual practices. Condom usage for STI prevention is rare, as men prioritize sexual pleasure. 2 The research focuses on "non-marital sexual encounters," It includes the sexual activities of individuals regardless of their marital status or their sexual partners. xx This study incorporates the broken windows theory (physical disorder theory) and the social norms theory to illustrate how physical appearances and social norms impact the community's behaviour under study and its relevance to the present research. Similarly, the analysis incorporates the social norm theory and finds it applicable within a masculine/gender-dominated environment. Misperceived cultural norms provoke risky sexual behaviours. These norms, in turn, shape individuals' development of new social identities while living as migrants, which can lead to behaviours such as sexual risk-taking and drug use, ultimately resulting in heightened vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections. By unravelling the effects of the physical and social environment on migrant men's sexual behaviour, the study contributes to the development of targeted intervention and prevention strategies for STIs and HIV. The study provides valuable insights into the intricate nature of potential sexual risk behaviours outside of marriage or in committed sexual relationships. Additionally, it examines how cultural norms and societal pressures influence paid sexual transactions within the specific community under study. In conclusion, this study deepens our understanding of migrant men's behaviours within their unique environment, paving the way for more effective strategies in sexual health and behaviour interventions.