Religiosity and HIV Risk Among Male Migrants in Kazakhstan

This dissertation employs qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the relationship between religion and sexual HIV risk among 1,342 male migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, employed in Baraholka Market, located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Drawing on a conceptual theoretical framework which incorporates decision-making, social support, and gender and power theories, research questions examine how religion contributes to engagement in or avoidance of sexual HIV risks through the mechanisms of decision-making, social supports, and gendered norms; whether affiliation and religiosity are associated with sexual HIV risks; and whether changes in religiosity over time are associated with sexual HIV risks. Study findings identified that most men were Muslim and religious norms contributed to their understanding of sexual relationships. Some associations with protective behavior were found for men who were Muslim, men with higher levels of religiosity, and men who maintained higher than average religiosity over time. Men with higher than average religiosity were more likely to consider themselves protected from acquiring HIV. Study findings have a number of implications for HIV prevention efforts in Central Asia.