HIV on the rise in Guatemala

Border towns with Mexico serve as hot spots for high-risk behaviour that leads to transmission of the virus.

Guatemala is facing a growing HIV epidemic.

And towns bordering Mexico are transmission hot spots for the virus.

Human trafficking, sexual abuse, prostitution and drug use in these towns create the kind of high-risk behaviour that leads to HIV transmission.

Northern-bound migrants, desperate to escape poverty, have nothing to lose, and are often preyed on by gangs, corrupt police and others.

Al Jazeera’s Dave Mercer reports from Tecun Uman.

Source: Al Jazeera