Mobility, Behaviour and Gender Nexus: Theoretical Perspectives on HIV Vulnerability in Fishing Communities in Sub‐Saharan African Countries

ABSTRACT Fishing communities in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) face elevated HIV vulnerability, driven by occupational mobility, socio‐economic marginalisation and gendered power dynamics. This qualitative review synthesises empirical studies and theoretical frameworks to examine how mobility, risky behaviours and health outcomes intersect in these communities. An integrated theoretical approach employs the push‐pull model (PPM), social control theory (SCT), health belief model (HBM) and theory of gender and power (TGP). The PPM elucidates the ecological and economic drivers of fishers’ seasonal mobility; the SCT examines how transient settings weaken social bonds, enabling risky behaviours; the HBM assesses perceptions of HIV risk and barriers to prevention; and the TGP highlights how gendered labour divisions and power imbalances amplify vulnerability. Findings reveal that mobility disrupts social cohesion, fosters transactional sexual networks and increases behaviours like unprotected sex and substance abuse. The gendered roles, where men are primarily engaged in fishing and women in processing, exacerbate HIV risk due to economic dependency and sexual exploitation. This synthesis advocates for multi‐level, context‐specific interventions addressing structural inequalities, risk awareness and gender equity to enhance health outcomes and sustainable livelihoods in SSA fishing communities.