Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy Essay Example

and studies, the main cause of HIV/AIDS transmission is heterosexual activity, accounting for 75-80% (Akwara, 2005; USAID, 2005). This issue has been worsened by increased human mobility in Ghana and across borders. The improvement of transportation systems and larger social networks have contributed to the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS.

During the early 1980s, HIV cases in Ghana were primarily found in the southern region of the country (Agyei-Mensah, 2001, pg. no.). However, a recent study has shown a noteworthy rise in HIV prevalence throughout both the northern and southern parts of Ghana.

According to Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MOH), there was a notable rise in HIV cases in specific parts of the Northern sector in 1997. The MOH also stated that the northern region accounted for 14.4% of the total reported cases in the country and was ranked sixth among the ten regions.

The upper East region accounted for 12.5% of the total number of cases in 1998, making it the fourth highest region for such cases in the country, according to the MOH (1997; 1999). The UERGHS released a report in 2006 covering the period from 1989 to 1999, stating that there were 2015 positive HIV cases during this time. As per UERGHS (2006), within seven years, this number had more than doubled to 5366 cases, with Bolgatanga having the highest incidence of HIV since 2002 (page no).

In 2005, Bawku was classified as 'in the red'[1], but unlike other high HIV prevalence areas where cases have decreased, Bawku has seen a twofold increase in HIV cases within just eleven years (citation needed here).

According to an unidentified

source, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Bawku was the fourth highest in 2005. This information has raised concerns among local government authorities, stakeholders in the Health sector, and natives of the area regarding the region's HIV infection rate.

In light of the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the area, health authorities and citizens are actively exploring its causes. To address this issue, I conducted a study to examine how the sexual behavior of seasonal migrants in Bawku could contribute to the transmission of HIV.

The study findings can disclose the underlying factors and ascertain whether seasonal labor migrants are contributing to the rising prevalence of the disease or if additional investigation is needed for other factors.

The importance of the research is significant.

The research will enhance our understanding of HIV/AIDS transmission in underdeveloped nations with significant internal migration. It may confirm or refute the belief that migrants are more susceptible to diseases, while pinpointing specific migrant groups at higher risk.

Moreover, this data can assist policymakers and health professionals in strengthening their initiatives and educational strategies concerning the illness and its effects on particular demographics. If there is a limited understanding of the disease, customized awareness campaigns can be created to improve knowledge, especially in underserved regions.

The author emphasizes the significance of understanding the knowledge levels of migrants in order to recognize their strengths and weaknesses concerning the disease. Additionally, if there is sufficient knowledge but risky sexual behavior, this research could assist policymakers in developing programs that promote the translation of knowledge into safer behaviors.

The writer's objective is to communicate their investigation and findings

to both governmental and non-governmental organizations, with the intention of publishing the information and making it accessible to interested individuals. Additionally, group discussions and interviews enable respondents to exchange knowledge and deepen their understanding of the disease's characteristics.

The study has the potential to educate individuals who lack knowledge about disease transmission, prevention, symptoms, and treatment methods with the goal of raising awareness and benefiting a wide range of people.

CHAPTER 1

A theoretical framework on migration and HIV/AIDS

1.1. The vulnerability of migrants

UNESCO and UNAIDS (2000) state that migrants are at risk of transmitting diseases due to their mobility and marginalized, unstable working conditions. The difficulty of educating migrants about HIV risks and treatment options is further complicated by the fact that they have multiple places of residence.

Infected migrants encounter substantial prejudice and exclusion because of their ethnic background and socio-economic standing. Anarfi and Kwakye (2003) state that migrants' health risks stem from interpersonal contact, physical stress, and psychological stress. The migration of people exposes them to various health dangers.

The spread of diseases can be accelerated through large-scale migration. Migrants are particularly susceptible to contracting or spreading diseases due to their unstable lifestyles and risky behaviors. Their lack of familiarity with a new environment and insecure living conditions make migrants especially vulnerable to various health risks.

According to researchers, the activities of migrants have a significant impact on disease spread. For example, Loewenson (1988) claims that in Ethiopia, the movement of migrants for work has led to the transmission of parasitic and other communicable diseases. The reappearance of malaria in Swaziland is also

attributed to the employment of Mozambicans on sugar plantations. Watt (1987) discovered a link between population movement and the spread of guinea worm in Nigeria. Additionally, Prothero (1996) reported a strong correlation between diseases and population movement in West Africa.

In the last ten years, there has been a shift in emphasis on the specific transmission of HIV/AIDS. This change is driven by the substantial risks linked to this disease, especially regarding treatment and finding a cure. Lovgren (2001) states that African military personnel have played a vital part in spreading the disease through their deployment to different locations.

According to him, the HIV rate among the armies of DR Congo is potentially at 50%. He emphasizes that whether or not a soldier is sent overseas, they are often stationed far from their loved ones or significant other, increasing the likelihood of engaging in other relationships.

The text emphasizes that failing to practice safe sex and constantly moving around can heighten the chances of disease. According to a study conducted in Japan, migrant workers who are not of Japanese descent made up 33% of the second most affected group in the country (JCIE 2004). This underscores the vulnerability of migrants in terms of acquiring infectious diseases.

According to Anarfi (et al. 1997; Konotey-Ahulu, 1989), migrants make up nearly 100% of the individuals who were initially diagnosed with the virus in Ghana in the 1980s. Similarly, in Belgium during the 1980s, a significant number of AIDS cases were not predominantly found among homosexuals or drug users. Instead, the prevalence was higher among individuals of African descent and Europeans who had resided in

Africa for extended periods (Bonneux, 1988).

Hunt (1996) suggests that the high concentration of labor migrants in certain African countries is linked to a high HIV prevalence rate. Fage (1999) indicates that in southern Africa, the regular return of seasonal migrants has facilitated the rapid spread of HIV. According to Webb (1997), the level of risk faced by migrants is determined by the social and geographical conditions of their new environment. Their mobility also reduces their ability to handle health threats they encounter. Migrants, as opposed to non-movers, are more susceptible. The risk they face is not directly caused by their mobility, but rather by the conditions and events associated with the migration process (Decosas et al., 1995).

The examination of migration and HIV/AIDS is significant as it can aid in forecasting and deterring the transmission of the virus in different regions by implementing efficient prevention methods (Crush et al. 2006). Crush identified three primary ways in which migrants contribute to the swift dissemination and elevated prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

The high infection rate among migrant communities is primarily due to their marginalized condition, which includes limited access to information and health care.

2. Migrants' social networking also facilitates sexual networking.

Migrants pose challenges in terms of reaching them for various purposes such as prevention education, providing logistics for prevention (e.g., distributing condoms), conducting testing, and offering post-infection treatment.

The text examines the connection between migration and the spread of HIV/AIDS, emphasizing how socio-economic hardships have influenced migration patterns and contributed to the rise and dissemination of communicable diseases. In the beginning, a behavioral approach was employed to comprehend the

common individual factors impacting disease transmission.

Parker and Mailman (2001) merged the behavioral approach with the political economy model to assert that the dissemination of HIV/AIDS has been influenced by structure and power relations.

According to Gatrel (2002), the investigation and understanding of disease transmission involve various approaches that may vary depending on the location. Gatrel differentiates between two approaches, namely the positivist approach and the social interactionist approach, which offer both measurable and non-measurable aspects of the disease.

According to Gatrel (2002), he expands on the structuralist concept that the social and economic environment in which one is situated contains the root causes of illness. He also utilizes the complexity theory as a comprehensive framework for various approaches that can comprehensively examine the spread of disease.

The complexity theory emphasizes that the world consists of intricate structures and organizations of networks, including social networks that connect individuals. This is commonly termed as the "small world".

Various models have been utilized to pinpoint distinctive factors of HIV within a particular group. These models consist of the sexual and behavioral models (Caldwell and Quinggin 1989), vulnerability theory (Oppong 1998), Political economy (Mayer 1996), migration theory (Hunt 1996), and diffusion (Wood 1988).

In order to comprehensively grasp the transmission of diseases, it is essential to incorporate not only models and theories but also factors and conditions that affect behavior. By doing so, we can recognize distinct features of particular regions that impact the sexual behavior of migrants. According to Brockerhoff and Biddlecom (1999), three factors can be attributed to the risky sexual behavior exhibited by migrants.

The migrant's "predisposing individual

characteristics" are largely influenced by their original environment and socio-economic background. Migration can lead to changes in individual attributes, which may stem from the migrant being separated from their partner or experiencing improved economic conditions.

When migrants encounter a different environment, they may feel compelled to conform and adjust their way of life to fit in with the sexual norms, opportunities, and restrictions of the local community. Additionally, their experiences during the migration process often result in changes to their sexual behavior.

The Health Behavioural Model (HBM) is utilized by psychologists to comprehend, clarify, and anticipate health behavior by examining individual beliefs and attitudes. According to Janz and Becker (1984), this model suggests that an individual's thoughts about the risks of their behavior, shaped by their characteristics, past experiences, and current environment, can impact behavior change.

The literature review on migration and HIV spread is crucial for understanding the connection between migration and disease transmission. It is relevant to incorporate findings into existing models and theories that explain the spread of HIV. The use of behavioral change theories and models enables an understanding of how a migrant's behavior can change in a new environment and the resulting impact on HIV transmission.

CHAPTER 2

In this section, we will describe the methodology used for our study.

Since seasonal migrants are predominantly male, this paper focuses specifically on males. However, there are also female migrants, primarily working as itinerant traders, petty traders, household workers, and bar attendants in urban areas.

Couples migrate for long term working contracts and permanent stay, as well as for short term periods of a few weeks or

months in the destination.

The research focuses on long term or permanent migrants who travel to the south for farm labor but still visit their hometowns occasionally.

Despite the difficulty in distinguishing between short term and long term migration among the respondents, a significant number of them can be classified as 'short term seasonal migrants'[2].

One additional concern is the sensitivity of the research subject, creating challenges for a male researcher to engage with females in a culture where conversations about sex are restricted and typically held between married individuals, peers, and friends.

In a familiar socio-economic environment, a young male researcher has the chance to engage in conversations with fellow peers who share the same language. Exploring the circumstances of seasonal migrants in Bawku is fascinating due to the cultural and religious bonds that are stressed by both residents of Bawku and individuals from the entire northern region.

Cultural and religious norms impose constraints on sexual exploration, both for individuals before and outside of marriage. Yet, the desire for sexual fulfillment drives both married and unmarried individuals to find ways to bypass these restrictions.

This chapter introduces the primary research question and the methodology utilized to address it. Fig. 2.1 displays a map of Ghana, while fig 2.2 exhibits the count of villages and communities within the Bawku municipality. The study randomly chose twelve communities for examination.

The region has been designated as an endemic area. My definition of short term migration is when someone is absent from their residence for a period not exceeding 3 months.