The change of permanent residence by migrants living with HIV can be considered as a factor that significantly affects adherence to HIV treatment and thus reduces the effectiveness of epidemic control measures. It is expected that their access to medical services is often complicated by the uncertain legal situation in the country of residence. In this regard, migration can be considered as one of the social factors affecting the health and well-being of migrants living with HIV.
Health care for migrants is generally limited to access to primary health care and consultations.
The aim of this project is to identify possible barriers for newly settled PLHIV in accessing HIV diagnosis and treatment, given the substantial number of migrants arriving in Georgia. A comparative analysis of existing barriers for migrants living with HIV in Poland, Lithuania and Georgia that limit their ability to access appropriate health services is of particular methodological importance. The increasing number of migrants in these countries in recent years is the reason for their selection.
The study targeted migrants living with HIV from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus who had been living in Georgia, Poland, and Lithuania for at least 3 months at the time of data collection. The sample size was 30 PLHIV (10 people in each country).