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High HIV/AIDS Prevalence in a Suburban Area in Ghana: A Context Analysis of Its Relationship to Human Trafficking A Dissertation Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Sociology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By Susan Langmagne Copyright Susan Langmagne, May 2016. All rights reserved PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this dissertation in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my dissertation work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my dissertation work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this dissertation or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my dissertation. Requests for permission to copy or to make other uses of materials in this dissertation in whole or part should be addressed to: Head of the Department of Sociology University of Saskatchewan 9 Campus Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A, Canada OR Dean College of Graduate Studies and Research University of Saskatchewan 107 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A2, Canada i ABSTRACT Since HIV/AIDS was first recorded in Ghana in the early 1980s, the Manya Krobo area in the Eastern Region of Ghana has persistently recorded the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country. While HIV/AIDS prevalence in Ghana compared to other countries in the sub-region is relatively low (1.3%), local variations in HIV prevalence in the country is a cause for concern. Whereas the Manya Krobo study area has a current prevalence rate of 11.6% (MoH, 2014), almost nine times higher than the national average, other regions remain virtually untouched (Osafo et al., 2013). In just twelve and a half years (2005-2013), HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the Manya Krobo area rose from 6.0% to 11.6% (MoH, 2014). Extant studies have attributed the extremely high incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Manya Krobo area to labor migration. Furthermore, commentators (Piper, 2005; OSCE, 2004) on this subject contend that human trafficking thrives where labor migration abounds. While human trafficking exists both internally and transnationally, studies on the subject have focused mainly on trafficking across borders (Rahman, 2011). Adopting a broad development framework and drawing extensively on postmodernists thought, this research critically examines whether the high labor migration occurrence in the Manya Krobo area has elements of internal human trafficking, which in turn, contributes to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the study area. The findings of the study suggest some relationship between internal migratory movements, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS, however, further research with a larger sample size is needed to validate this conclusion. While most people are trafficked in the process of migrating, both labor migrants and trafficked persons became susceptible to HIV/AIDS due to the deplorable conditions under which they work. ii The study revealed a relatively high incidence of HIV/AIDS infection among older respondents 50 years and above at 20.4% - almost one-third of the percentage of respondents in the productive and reproductive age group of 22-49 years. This study finding indicates that HIV does not exclusively affect younger people. The study identified a number of mediating factors underlying the concentration of HIV/AIDS in the study area, including non-disclosure, stigma, proliferation of microfinance institutions (MFIs), cultural practices, and widowers and widows remarrying without checking their HIV/AIDS status. Finally, the study noted that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Manya Krobo area creates a complex web of socioeconomic problems in the form of poverty, women-headed households, high presence of widows and widowers, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), child labor and low economic activities, all of which perpetuates a cycle of HIV infection in the area. The study concludes that the experienced realities of poverty, unemployment, stigma and social exclusion compel research participants to make constructed choices, which in turn fuel the spread of the disease in the area. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I sincerely appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of all those who contributed in diverse ways to the successful completion of this dissertation. First, I thank the Almighty God for guiding me through this academic journey. I remain eternally grateful to my supervisor, Professor Patience Elabor-Idemudia for her inspiration, dedication, guidance, and constructive criticism that have guided the development of this dissertation. Her warmth, patience, and personal interest, in not only my academic success but also my personal welfare, spurred me on to successful completion of my Ph.D. program. A great measure of gratitude is extended to my committee members: Drs Marie Lovrod, Darrell McLaughlin, and Kalowati Deonandan for their suggestions and valuable contributions, which shaped the outcome of this dissertation. I extend my profound gratitude to Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana; Prof. Kwuku Osam, former Pro-VC, University of Ghana; Dr. Clement Ahiadeke, former Director of ISSER, University of Ghana and Dr. Adobea Owusu, Senior lecturer at ISSER, for recognizing my potential and encouraging me to pursue this Ph.D. program. Thank you for mentoring and believing in me; I am forever grateful. From the depth of my heart, I say thank you to Dr. Kofi Gyan from the University of Michigan, for your immeasurable kindness, encouragement, and support. Though dead quiet, lonely and bitter cold, away from my husband and family, you made my Christmases lively and warm. Thank you for taking a complete stranger into your fold and believing in me. I am grateful to my friend and colleague Dr. Enoch Pambour for editing and fine-tuning my dissertation. I am also full of gratitude to Mr. Isaac Antwi, Lower Manya Krobo District HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Mr. Theophilus Agbodjalu, Eastern Region Coordinator of the National Association iv of People Living with AIDS (NAPLAS) for your time and patience in accessing necessary documents for me and guiding me to key informants. Sincerest gratitude to all the Leaders of PLWHA in the Manya and Yilo Krobo areas and all of the research participants who boldly volunteered to participate in this study, despite the odds, and for furnishing me with valuable information without which, this research would have been incomplete. Special Thanks also goes to Mr. Christopher Mensah of Chrismek Right’s Foundation, Somanya, for providing his office space free of charge and allowing me to use it as the venue for all the Focus Group, In-depth personal and Structured Questionnaire interviews. Thank you from the depth of my heart. To my dear Agnes Lartey and Blessing Agboada, who with gracious hearts, agreed to assist with administering the research structured questionnaires, thank you for saving me from the pressure and emotional stress of doing it all alone. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to my parents for their abundant love, prayers and encouragement, which urged me on during the difficult times when I almost gave up. v DEDICATION To my dear husband Otto, for the huge sacrifices, unconditional love, support and the encouragement to soldier on. To my brother Kwabena who makes my life a little easier. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Permission to use ............................................................................................................................. i Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iv Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiii List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………xiv Acronyms and Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………xv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY…..............................................................1 1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..1 1.1 Background to the Problem……………………………………………………………….6 1.2 Significance of study……………………………………………………………………..13 1.3 Main Arguments and Research Questions……………………………………………….14 1.4 Structure of Dissertation…………………………………………………………………15 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND TO STUDY AREA AND AN OVER VIEW OF MIGRATION PATTERNS IN GHANA………………………………….17 2.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………17 2.1 Background of the Study Area…………………………………………………………...18 2.1.1 Ghana…………………………………………………………………………………….18