Since the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) was first reported in Sierra Leone in 1987, its prevalence rate has stabilized at 1.5% in the nation's general population. However, concerns exist regarding the potential increase in high-risk populations, particularly among mineworkers and commercial sex workers. The potential spread of HIV/AIDS as a result of labor migration may threaten the mining sector, which has been identified as a critical driver of recent economic growth and development. A gap remains in the literature regarding the contextual factors in mining communities that lead to high rates of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the association between labor migration and of sexual risk behaviors among mineworkers in the Marampa Mines in Lunsar, Sierra Leone. Grounded in the ecological model and using a cross-sectional design, 296 mineworkers from the Marampa mining communities were surveyed using a standardized survey questionnaire. Research questions were answered using simple linear and binary logistic regression analyses. Analyses of the results indicated a significant relationship between labor migration and condom self-efficacy, where migrants were predicted to have condom self-efficacy scores 7 times higher than nonmigrants. However, the results showed no statistically significant relationship between labor migration and engagement in multiple sexual partnerships and commercial sex among the mineworkers. These findings will provide important implications for positive social change in the development of multilevel HIV intervention programs to reduce sexual risk behaviors that transmit HIV, thereby improving the health and wellbeing of miners and that of their partners and families in the mining communities.

This study explored factors associated with the reluctance of people living with HIV (PLWH) to disclose their (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statuses to their sexual partners at Galeshewe Day Hospital in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The study was an in-depth interview based qualitative research; and purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 13 PLWH aged between 18 and 45. Among males, factors contributing to the reluctance of disclosure to sexual partners are ignorance, fear of rejection, not knowing where to start when disclosing and secrecy. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosing to sexual partners as this will prevent new infections. There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on males particularly, to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to PLWH and to advocate strongly for partner testing / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study explored factors associated with the reluctance of people living with HIV (PLWH) to disclose their (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statuses to their sexual partners at Galeshewe Day Hospital in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The study was an in-depth interview based qualitative research; and purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 13 PLWH aged between 18 and 45. Among males, factors contributing to the reluctance of disclosure to sexual partners are ignorance, fear of rejection, not knowing where to start when disclosing and secrecy. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosing to sexual partners as this will prevent new infections. There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on males particularly, to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to PLWH and to advocate strongly for partner testing / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)