Use of Technology in Segregating Occupational risks of Migrant and linking them with Services: Experiences from National AIDS Control Program for Migrants

Abstract

Background: The migrant intervention in India was initiated during the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) Phase-2 (2002-2007). Even by the end of NACP Phase-3 (2010-11); the service uptake among migrants remained very low (14% referred for HIV testing, of which only 37% were tested). USAID PHFI-PIPPSE project in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) developed a unique system called Migrant Service Delivery System (MSDS) to capture migrants profile with respect to their risk profile and to provide tailor made services to them.

Description: MSDS is a web-based system, designed and implemented to increase service uptake among migrants through evidence based planning. 110 destination migrants Targeted Intervention (TI) from 11 states were selected for study with varied target populations in terms of occupations; to understand occupation related risk behaviors amongst the migrants. Occupation wise registration data of high risk vulnerable migrants were analyzed through MSDS for the period April 2014-June 2016. Analysis was made on specific indicators amongst these occupational groups to understand the risk behavior and their vulnerability to HIV and STI.

Lessons Learned: Out of total migrants workers enrolled in MSDS HIV rate is found to be highest amongst Auto-Rickshaw (18.66%) followed by daily wage laborers (14.46%), loom workers (10.73%), industrial workers (10.04%) and construction workers (7.93%). With 45.14% positivity, industrial workers are found to be most vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) amongst all occupational categories followed by loom workers (16.28%), skilled worker (Furniture, Jeweler)(7.14%), daily wage laborers (5.45%) .

Conclusion/Next Steps: MSDS is an effective tool to assess migrants’ risk and their vulnerability to HIV for designing evidence informed program. This system calls for a replication across all destination TIs by NACO for differential strategies for different occupation groups to ensure better yield through scientific planning of intervention among high risk and high vulnerable migrants.