ITF survey reveals need for seafarer HIV and wellbeing action

Many myths about HIV transmission remain – worries about weight, depression and alcohol use

ITF has published a report entitled as ”’A broader vision of seafarer wellbeing: survey of ITF maritime affiliates on HIV/AIDS, health and wellbeing” based on a survey where34 trade unions and 608 seafarers were questioned. The survey highlights the need for continuing work on HIV/AIDS and wellbeing among seafarers.

The results may be surprising:

Despite all the work that has gone into education about HIV/AIDS, many myths about its transmission remain:

only 17 percent of respondents believed condoms are effective in preventing it
46 percent believe it can be spread in food and drink.
there are high levels of anxiety about working with HIV-positive workmates, an attitude the ITF is committed to eliminating by ensuring that seafarers have correct information about HIV risk.

Other major findings

reporting worries about weight, depression and alcohol use.
On average half of them were worried about their weight,
almost 60 percent experience back/joint pain at work
In one labour supplying country 75 percent know workmates who are depressed.
Between six and 41 percent, depending on country, knew workmates who had considered suicide.

ITF maritime coordinator Jacqueline Smith explained: We believe this is the most exhaustive current investigation into this subject, and we offer its findings to everyone concerned with the welfare of seafarers.

We carried out this research to identify the needs and concerns of seafarers, and to show us how we can best address them within the ITFs longstanding and pioneering HIV/AIDS programme. The results speak for themselves, and we will with the agreement of the ITF seafarers section, which sponsored this survey plan a comprehensive programme of action accordingly.

The report ends by offering a set of recommendations for future action by the ITF and its affiliates. The key recommendation is that the ITF should put in place an HIV/AIDS, health and wellbeing programme tailored to seafarers’ needs. More detailed points are made about the development of resource materials, such as the toolkits prepared for ports and civil aviation, about pre-departure training for peer educators, and about the development of a health and HIV module for maritime academies.

Partnerships with employers are recommended, as is collaboration with organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), which has its own programmes for seafarers as well as relevant standards such as Recommendation 200 on HIV/AIDS and the world of work.

Further details may be found by reading the report