1. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
XVII International AIDS Conference
Oaxacalifornia: indigenous migration and vulnerability to HIV/AIDS René Leyva-Flores, Frida Quintino, Xochilth Castañeda, George Lemp, Juan Ruiz, Carlos Magis
México, D.F 4 de agosto 2008

2. Background Oaxacalifornia:
Mexico-US migration: there are important cultural, social, ethnic, class differences between mobile groups.
Zapotecas from Oaxaca: have been migrating to the US (California) for more than 50 years.
Oaxacalifornia:
Transnational space: 4,000 Kms separate Oaxaca from California
There are social and cultural differences and similarities
150,000 Zapotecos live in California
Continuous exchange of material and symbolic means.

3. Objetive
Analyze how the Zapotec’s perceive and respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in both Oaxaca and California

4. Methods Qualitative study (2004) 53 in depth interviews:
County of Fresno, California (EU)
Municipalities of de San Pablo Huixtepec, Ciénega de Zimatlán y Teotitlán, Oaxaca
53 in depth interviews:
Male Zapotec migrants (19)
Zapotec women: spouses of migrants in Oaxaca(12)
Health care providers (12)
NGOs representatives (10)

5. HIV/AIDS among Zapotecs: information and behaviours
Men
In California:
“..There is AIDS”
Increase condom use.
Return to Oaxaca:
“Free of AIDS”
Sexual behaviours: “machistas”
Migrants do not use condom with their wife
Women (Oaxaca)
“Husband: is the only sexual partner
“fulfil their traditional role as women”
Sexual, reproductive health related to partner migration
Risk to STIs related to partner return from the US

6. Health care providers and ethnicity: HIV prevention?
Oaxaca
Prevention strategies focus on women
“Men do not agree to be tested for HIV and do not want to use condoms”
Condoms are mainly used for family planning
Health care providers do not speak Zapoteco and do not register data regarding ethnicity.
California
Information on HIV prevention directed to men (in spanish)
Mexican consulate provide basic information on HIV/AIDS.
Mexican consulate do not registers ethnicity data
Binational health week
“they return to die of AIDS…”
“Access to scientific information”

7. Zapotec organizations and HIV/AIDS
California
Frente Indígena Oaxaqueño Binacional (FIOB):
Guelaguetza and HIV
Ethnic identity
Human Rights approach
Bilingual Oaxacan Radio:
“AIDS is an important problem…the most affected are those men that arrive alone to work in the fields”
Oaxaca
Casa de la Mujer Rosario Castellanos:
Sexual and reproductive health with indigenous women.
HIV prevention:
Intercultural health perspective
Gender approach
Focus on men

8. 50 years of migration: ethnic identity, migration, sexuality and AIDS
Health care system
Differentiated sexual
behaviours
Ethnic identity
“with AIDS”
OAXACALIFORNIA
Social networks
“free of AIDS”
Differentiated
management of risks
Zapotec Organizations
MIGRATION
Fuente: Leyva R et Al., Oaxacalifornia, 2008