Abstract

INFANTE, César; SILVAN, Rubén; CABALLERO, Marta  and  CAMPERO, Lourdes. Central American migrant's sexual experiences and rights in their transit to the USA. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2013, vol.55, suppl.1, pp.S58-S64. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the causes and circunstances that determine the way in which migrants experience their sexuality and how this impacts their sexual rights. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Qualitative study conducted between April 2009 and July 2010 in Chiapas, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. We conducted 22 indepth interviews to migrants in transit and to ten different key actors. For the analysis we used elements of grounded theory. RESULTS: Migrants know and identify the risks they may encounter in their transit but have scarce access to services to effectively exercise their sexual and reproductive rights. Their vulnerability makes them internalize and accept the violence enacted on them as part of their destiny and as what they must suffer in order to reach the USA. CONCLUSIONS: Violence, including sexual violence, determines much of the experiences of their transit through Mexico. Differences between groups and between male and female migrants are determined by gender inequalities and power.

Keywords : migration; sexuality; violence; Mexico.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )