This publication presents the results of a study conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Republic of Belarus in 2018 within the project “Study on nexus between migration and HIV in Belarus” with financial support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
One of the key purposes of the study was to identify the level of awareness of HIV and its routes of transmission among the target groups: 1) international drivers, 2) foreign students, and 3) working migrants. Awareness was shown to be low among the focus groups. Low awareness in its turn leads to higher behavioral risks.
The results point to a need for large-scale innovative preventive activities aimed at informing the target groups about the risks and safety measures. Moreover, the study has revealed that migrants face certain difficulties in accessing HIV testing and ARV treatment services, that needs to be addressed through effective policies.