Burmese migrant workers leave Myanmar and come to Thailand because of the ongoing economic and political discrimination at home. Drawn to the greater work opportunities available in Thailand, these migrant workers are actively working and looking for jobs in Thailand’s menial job sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, fisheries, construction and manufacturing. They suffer from low-paid, difficult and dangerous work conditions which are largely unprotected by labor laws. Taking into account Thailand’s new minimum wage, the Thai economy’s labor shortage problem and the coming of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, the Thai government should coordinate the efforts of its own various agencies, employers, migrant associations, civil society, the Thai public, ASEAN and the international community to improve Burmese migrant workers’ rights. Beyond the process of clarifying the rights of migrants in the workplace to Thai employers and labor unions, as well as enforcing existing laws, the Thai government should provide migrants with health care services, education, and the option of citizenship, so that the migrants can live a quality life in their adopted country.

Background: Good knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of HIV prevention are essential in order not to acquire HIV infection and to prevent the disease from spreading. A proper and well functioning prevention of HIV requires clear and relevant information and instructions from health care givers. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning HIV prevention among Burmese migrant workers in Thailand and compare these between genders. Method: A descriptive and comparative cross-section design with a quantitative method was used. The Health belief model was provided as theoretical framework. The data was collected at two fish industries and at the health clinics of these industries in the Samut Sakorn Province, Thailand. Eighty migrant workers participated by answering a questionnaire about KAP of HIV prevention. Results: Most of the Burmese migrant workers had heard of HIV/AIDS, and overall women had better knowledge than men. Less than 50% of the men reported they had ever received information on HIV. There were significant differences between genders in several statements concerning knowledge, attitudes and practices. Conclusions: The male and female Burmese migrant workers had different knowledge, attitudes and practice of HIV prevention. Health care professionals should consider gender and culture when providing intervention programs to migrant workers. / Bakgrund: Goda kunskaper, attityder och utövande (KAP) av HIV prevention är av stor vikt för att ej smittas av HIV och för att förhindra att sjukdomen sprids. En korrekt och välfungerande prevention av HIV kräver tydlig och relevant information och instruktioner från hälso- och sjukvården. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka kunskap, attityder och utövande av HIV prevention bland invandrade burmesiska arbetare I Thailand, och jämföra dessa mellan kön. Metod: En beskrivande och jämförande tvärsnittsdesign med kvantitativ metod har använts. The Health belief model användes som teoretiskt ramverk. Data samlades in vid två fiskeindustrierna och deras hälsoklinik i Samut Sakorn provinsen, Bangkok, Thailand. Åttio invandrade arbetare deltog genom att besvara ett frågeformulär om KAP av HIV prevention. Resultat: De flesta invandrade burmesiska arbetarna hade hört talas om HIV/AIDS, och generellt hade kvinnorna bättre kunskap än männen. Mindre än 50% av männen rapporterade att det någonsin hade fått information om HIV. Det var en signifikant skillnad mellan könen i flera av påståendena om kunskap, attityder och utövande.  Slutsats: De manliga och kvinnliga invandrade burmesiska arbetarna hade olika kunskaper, attityder och utövande av HIV prevention. Hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen bör överväga genus och kultur vid tillhandahållande av interventionsprogram för invandrade arbetare.