Invitation: Migration & Mobility: Impact On Acquiring HIV in Film Industry

[Guest guest]

Invitation: Migration & Mobility: Impact On Acquiring HIV in Film

Industry

Invitation to explore ……… from Society for Development Research and

Training (SFDRT), Pondicherry & Chennai: We cordially invite you with

your colleagues and friends on a bouquet of dissemination of research

findings on the " Patterns of Migration with Mobility and Its Impact

On Acquiring HIV/AIDS Among the Employees Working in the Ve rnacular

Film Industry of South India " – Research Initiative

Venue: UN Conference Hall – Delhi 55

Day & Date: March 29, 2007 (Thursday)

Time: 4.30pm – 6.30pm

Speakers: Ms. Shyamala Ashok (SfDRT) – Principal Investigator, Dr. K.

Jayaraman – Consultant (Statistics & Analyst) – Mr. Innacy Rocky – Co

Investigator (SfDRT)

SFDRT, a twelve year organization implementing differed

interventions, aiming at behavior change, mooted towards prevention

of HIV/AIDS and its care continuum. While hypothesizing a very high-

risk sexual behavior, with a large intensity among those working

within the film industry, (supported by CAPACS/NACO) we probably

reconfirmed a prevalence rate of HIV among 3% of the population. The

need to work was established, with the high-risk behavior being

prevalent among 90% of the target groups, covered by us so far (4000

members). Mobility & migration were major factors for increased

sexual behavior. Research findings aimed and understood the migratory

patterns, coupled with the ideas of sex and sexuality that prevailed

within the minds of the target group, and answered whether migration

and the mind set had a synchronization for the high risk behavior,

exercising the learnt and expected behavior, obstacles found towards

the expected behavior and most of all told us where exactly we could

touch on the expected behavior change that could be worked with

higher intensity.

Overall goal aimed to study the patterns of migration, with the

extent of mobility, its impact & interception towards acquiring

HIV/AIDS, among the employees working in the vernacular film industry

of South India. It is understood that multi partner sexual activities

and sex work is a part of the required glamour to work within the

film industry, which enhances the vast possibilities to become

infected with HIV/AIDS and migration would further contribute to

enhance the relationships not only within the film industry, but also

with others around their place of migration. In the process there are

considerable chances of increased numbers of new HIV infections. It

is further understood that the first sexual contact among these

groups are below 19 years and this could further enhance the risk,

with a logical hypothesis that adopting safe sex measures at this age

could be difficult due to several reasons.

Target groups with the geographical areas: The prime groups were of

high risk sexual behaviors, comprising of clients to sex work,

females working in the film industry catering to multi partner sexual

activities and some adapting to sex work on part time. The HIV

infections cut across this group largely due to migration which is

through selective places of India, while they work not only for the

Tamil industry but also cater their services to Andhrapradesh,

Karnataka, kerala and some of them work for the Hindi films in

Maharashtra. All places of work they chose to are identified states

of high risk to HIV prevalence. The work place operations require

them to encompass themselves to short term and long-term migration.

The study catered to gender and its perception as a cross cutting

feature within mobility & migration. The understanding of the above

was mooted into research thoughts & actions. Integrated research

findings will be integrated and used for the development of policies,

so as to lay a platform for a change in behavior, which will then

provide stepwise acceptance by the target group it self. Case studies

were used to prove the findings and ensured that small round table

discussions followed by seminars, enhanced acceptability. Acceptance

of the research findings along with the elucidated impact studies on

gender, power and migration; itself will pave the way for its

sustenance.

This study was conducted within the FEFSI (Film Employees Federation

of South India) comprising of 22 unions with a sample size of 2000.

(10%) of the population.

Ms. Shyamala Ashok

Executive Director, SFDRT

Rathna Complex, Salai, Pondicherry - 605001

Tel: 91-413-2225658; 22220058

email: sfdrt@..., aabinand@...

web: www.sfdrt.org