Myanmar Mon Women Living with AIDS in Thailand: Life of Migrant Workers - ผู้หญิงมอญจากสหภาพเมียนมาร์มาเป็นเอดส์ในเมืองไทย : ภาพชีวิตแรงงานข้ามชาติ

Abstract

This research article was aimed at describing the way of life of migrant Mon women with
AIDS in Samut Sakhon province. Qualitative study was employed. Using purposive sampling, 13
Mon women including two women living with AIDS and 11 of their neighbors, aged 18-73 and all
married, participated in the study. Informal interviews, in-depth interviews and observations were
used for data collection. Data were analyzed using content analysis. There are five major findings
including: 1) women living in Mon City had no future; 2) life in Samut Sakhon was financially
secured but not safe; 3) sexual relation and birth control depended upon men’s choices; 4) AIDS was
frightening, being infected with AIDS from a husband, and infected women were emphatic rather
than stigmatized; 5) women living with AIDS needed a cover-up and maintained an untarnished
image. The findings reveal that the life of Mon women who migrated from Myanmar to Thailand is
like a known Thai proverb “escape from the tiger, meet the crocodile”. It is quite challenging for
health institutes and multi-sector to tackle these problems.
Key words: Mon women, migrant worker, AIDS