Return Migration in the Context of Parental Assistance in the AIDS Epidemic: The Thai Experience

Most persons with AIDS (PWAs) eventually require demanding caregiving., which can prompt changes in living arrangements. Few studies have examined the potential links between AIDS and migration from this perspective. The study described in this article uses both direct and indirect approaches to examine the extent of return migration of adults with AIDS in Thailand and explores how this is linked to residence with and care by older aged parents. Methodological challenges and various approaches to the study of this phenomenon are discussed. Despite differences in the nature of information available from our samples and in basic sample characteristics, the findings show a consistent pattern suggestive of extensive return migration among PWAs. The fact that most return migrants dies within a few months of their return indicates that they are seeking parental caregiving during the final stages of the illness. The vast majority of PWAs who returned home after becoming ill did so because of their illness, particularly due to a need for care.