Exploring sexually transmitted infection prevention and transmission among Canadian international retirement migrants wintering in Yuma, Arizona

In a practice known as international retirement migration (IRM), tens of thousands of older Canadians – popularly known as 'snowbirds' – seasonally relocate to locations with better climate during the winter months. Despite the popularity of IRM among older Canadians, little is known about their sexual health in this transnational context. In this thesis, I present two qualitative analyses informed by a case study methodology that explore factors influencing sexual health outcomes for Canadian international retirees wintering in Yuma, Arizona – a popular destination for snowbirds where the local population is doubled during the winter months. The first analysis identifies three types of sexually transmitted infection risks associated with Canadians' seasonal travels to the area. The second analysis examines opportunities and barriers to sexually transmitted infection prevention and sexual health promotion in Yuma. Overall, both analyses underscore the need for destigmatizing sexual health interventions targeting mobile older populations, age-sensitive education for medical providers, and more efforts toward transnational care coordination.