Abstract:
Among other factors, migration has significantly contributed to the spread of HIV. Recent studies have revealed
that new infections occur along major transport corridors and truck-drivers have overall higher prevalence rates of
HIV and sexually transmitted infections than non-truck drivers’ counterparts. Therefore, there exist a link between
population mobility and HIV infection, as populations along transport corridors remain substantial contributors of
new infections. This research work documents a deterministic model of the dynamics of HIV transmission between
two closed patches that incorporates the Monod equation in migration with truck drivers being the agents of HIV
transmission. Migration is considered as a social determinant to health and have a significant impact on health‐
related vulnerabilities and access to services. We assumed that susceptible individuals become infected via sexual
intercourse with HIV infected truck drivers and all the infected individuals ultimately developed AIDS
exponentially. The model also assumed that the patches have different infection and susceptibility rates. The
patches basic reproduction number, 𝑅0 was determined using the Next Generation Matrix. The results revealed
that 𝑅0
should be kept below unity to eradicate the transmission of the virus. The Disease-Free Equilibrium Point
was obtained based on the signs of the Eigen values of the Jacobian matrix. In the absence, the Disease-Free
Equilibrium Point is both Locally Asymptotically and Globally Asymptotically Stable. It was further proved that
the model did not display Endemic Equilibrium Point under a special property for epidemic models. The model
findings are vital in guiding health practitioners, governmental and non-governmental health agencies in the
development of effective mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of HIV.
