Determinants of Demand for Safe Sex among Male Migrants in India

Indrani Gupta, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG)
Shalini Rudra, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Niranjan Saggurti, Population Council

The key variable for analysing unsafe sexual behaviour is consistent condom use. Other variables of interest include economic status, socio-demographic characteristics, migration type, duration, type of occupation, substance abuse, type of sexual partners and exposure to prevention messages. Hitherto, being in a non-monogamous relationship has been clubbed with the choice on condom use in explaining unsafe sex behaviour. This paper assumes a sequential decision-making process in the demand for safe sex in two stages: (a) individuals decide whether he wants to be in a non-monogamous relationship, (b) the non-monogamous individuals in turn take a decision on condom use. The results indicate that while lack of knowledge continues to be an important variable, prevention programmes need to focus on older men irrespective of their marital status. Also, education - rather than economic status - is a more important explanatory variable in this context.