Quantifying the impact of internal migration on the risk of acquiring HIV in Namibia

This thesis investigates the relationships between mobility, social/behavioral in- dicators, and HIV outcomes. We used data from the 2017 Namibia Population- Based HIV Impact Assessment (NAMPHIA) and the 2011 Namibia Population Housing Census. Focusing on specific sub-populations relevant to HIV trans- mission, the study examines how mobility patterns, along with various sociode- mographic factors, influence HIV status and treatment. The findings reveal significant associations between age, social/behavioral factors, and HIV status and treatment. Moreover, while mobility exhibits a correlation with achieving Viral Load Suppression, no direct correlation with HIV status is observed. How- ever, limitations arise from participants’ hesitance to disclose sensitive informa- tion and the unavailability of more granular constituency-level mobility data. These findings contribute to the understanding of HIV dynamics in Namibia and provide insights for future interventions and policies aimed at reducing HIV transmission.