Migration and mobility have had a profound influence on the global HIV epidemic. We propose a network-dyadic conceptual model to interpret previous literature and inform the development of future research with respect to study design, measurement methods, and analytic approach. In this model, HIV transmission is driven by risk behaviors of migrants that emerges and is enabled by mobility, the bridging of sub-epidemics across space and time, and the displacement effects on the primary residential sending community for migrants. To investigate these causal pathways, empirical study designs must measure the relative timing of migratory events, sexual risk behaviors, and incident HIV infections. Network-based mathematical models using empirical data on partnerships help gain insight into the dynamic disease transmission systems. Although the network-dyadic conceptual model and related network methods may not address all questions related to migration and HIV, they provide a unified approach for future research on this important topic. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Mathematical modeling Sub-Saharan Africa mobility Exponential random graph models

longitudinal study HIV Infections transmission sexual behavior methodology Research Design human Longitudinal Studies statistics and numerical data Cross-Sectional Studies health cross-sectional study Humans theoretical model Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Models, Theoretical Disease Outbreaks high risk behavior Risk-Taking migration global health Transients and Migrants attitude to health