Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. As part of ongoing efforts to generate evidence needed on HIV and tuberculosis TB to inform policies and programs aimed to improve the health outcomes of migrants and communities affected by migration and mining, a preliminary investigation was conducted through a biological and behavioral BBS approach related to HIV and TB in two communities of origin of migrant mineworkers in Gaza Province.
The main objective was to determine the prevalence of HIV and the rates of asymptomatic infection by TB, and the social and behavioral risk factors associated. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June using a simple random sampling methodology. Eligible participants were individuals who were living in the community at the time the survey was conducted, which included adult mine workers and members of their families aged 18 and above.
A total of participants were enrolled, The overall prevalence of HIV found in the two communities was The prevalence of active TB was found to be 0. Only 2. Condom use at last sexual intercourse with a regular partner was low among both sexes A considerable proportion of participants had not been aware of their HIV positive serostatus The results of this survey confirm a high prevalence of HIV in communities of origin of migrant miners in Gaza province. Appropriate communication interventions on methods of transmission and prevention of HIV and TB in these communities must be intensified, as well as ensuring ongoing linkage to TB and HIV social and healthcare services.
The South African mining industry has been a major contributor to the economy of the surrounding countries of the Southern African Development Community SADC due to job creation and tariffs paid to the countries sending their workforce to South Africa [ 1 , 2 ]. Indeed, mining companies have contributed towards improved social development. Migrant miners largely represent a group of sexually active men who are separated from their regular partners for extended periods. Research has noted that the migrant nature of work is characterized by access to commercial sex work, high alcohol use and low condom use [ 5 ].
This may contribute to the increased vulnerability to female partners residing in their communities of origin. It is widely recognized that the prevalence and the vulnerability to HIV infection is more pronounced among the miners, their families and communities than in the general population [ 2 , 3 , 6 — 9 ]. There are several environmental and individual structural factors contributing to the increase of vulnerability to HIV.
