“Migrants from over There” or “Racial Minority Here”? Sexual Networks and Prevention Practices among sub-Saharan African Migrants Living in France

Elise Marsicano, Paris XI, CESP-INSERM
Nathalie Lydié, Institut National de Prévention et d'Education pour la Santé (INPES)
Nathalie Bajos, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)

Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS infections in Europe. To give an insight into the epidemic dynamic in these populations, we describe their sexual networks and examine how preventive practices are organised within these sexual networks. Analyses are based on a French survey carried out in 2005 among 1874 individuals born in a Sub-Saharan African country, living in Paris and its surrounding, and aged 18-49. Our results show that the majority of respondents have a partner from sub-Saharan Africa and that condom use is higher among women with a non Sub-Saharan African partner. Spatial segregation and professionnal segmentation experienced by these migrants probably construct specific social and sexual networks. Partners not from Sub-Saharan Africa may perceive these women as “at risk” and are more likely to request condom use. These results provide evidence of boundaries between social groups, defined by minority boundaries and by migration ones.