Migrant populations: the development of something to evaluate

Abstract

The setting up of the "migrants" of the European Community "Assessing AIDS Prevention" Concerted Action in 1989 practically coincided with the start of HIV/AIDS prevention activities for migrants in European countries. This article discusses the migration situation in Europe, why migrants may, or may not, be important for HIV/AIDS prevention, and the particular difficulties inherent in such prevention. Government-sponsored and NGO programmes for foreigners in 12 European countries are described.

Conclusions: programmes need to be based on the right to know rather than on notions of risk group. The category "migrants" includes people with vastly different backgrounds and needs. Migrants or ethnic minority populations cannot be assumed to be reached by HIV/AIDS education messages directed towards the general population of that country, but specific programmes for them should follow the model developed for other general populations, with culturally adapted messages aimed at the entire population, followed by specific targeted interventions for particular sub-groups. For both aspects it is essential to work with the target community, in synergy between "top down" and "bottom up" programmes. The main needs in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention among migrants are for: adequately funded programmes; serious evaluation, both of baseline information and programme evaluation; international networking and cooperation concerning programmes, materials and methods, and research.