Sexual diversity challenging HIV AIDS prevention in Oaxaca, Mexico
Document type: mthesis
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Abstract:
The Muxe are an indigenous transgender group living in Juchitan in the State of Oaxaca in Southern Mexico. Despite many HIV prevention efforts from governmental and non governmental organizations during the past 20 years, the spread of the HIV epidemic has not been halted amongst the Muxe. Causes and consequences for the high HIV and AIDS prevalence among the Muxe are described, including biological, socio-cultural and economic factors that create circumstances that produce an increased vulnerability of the Muxe. These factors facilitate high risk behaviors, such as multiple partners and unsafe sex. Public Health policies and prevention campaigns are not directed toward the Muxe as a specific vulnerable group and do not address contributing factors such as social drinking, gender and sexual identities and the meaning of sexual acts, responsibilities within the community and the impact of migration. The Muxe themselves have developed more appropriate approaches to prevention, but their small NGOs lack recognition, acknowledgement, and financial and professional support. To improve prevention campaigns for the Muxe, policy makers designing them need to recognize the Muxe as a transgender group and include strategies directed specifically towards them in the State’s prevention measures. The Muxe should participate in policy development and implementation; responses need to be culturally adapted and should address risky behaviors such as alcohol consumption on a collective and not individual level.
Authors:
Finkler, T.
Country:
Mexico
Category:
Research
Department:
Development Policy & Practice
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Keywords:
HIV and AIDS
,
disease prevention and control
,
indigenous peoples
,
gender
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
viii, 55
Year:
2008
Region:
Central America
Right:
© 2008 Finkler
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
Sexual diversity challenging HIV AIDS prevention in Oaxaca, Mexico
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (ICHD)