Nineteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Various studies have examined the social effects of development policies on internal migration in Laos, and have pointed out how migratory movements often stand as the consequences of the social metamorphoses generated by development. Escaping poverty, combined with the desire to live differently, is leading the urban migration process of young people. The future prospects of rural families have shifted away from being dependent solely on land, now placing emphasis on the training and social networks embraced by the younger generation. The journey of young people involved in rural-urban migration brings forth a combination of both opportunities and risks. Given the significant transformations in the region, notably driven by China’s expanding influence across various domains, such as trade and the entertainment sector along the border shared by Laos and China, there is an imperative to generate qualitative scientific insights that take into account both a complex colonial/postcolonial past and local sociocultural rapid transformations. Within the HEALTH Project, funded by Initiative 5%, our preliminary research focuses on the Special Economic Zone of Boten in the Luang Namtha province. Through ethnographic studies and interviews with health center staff, truck drivers, construction workers, sex workers, and others, we aim to capture the context, underlying factors, prevailing practices, and consequential impacts related to migratory patterns and infectious risks. Our findings shed light on interconnected vulnerabilities and multifaceted health concerns in the region, highlighting a critical issue: the high-risk sexual behaviors and vulnerabilities faced by young individuals working in the entertainment and sex work industry.