There are many factors that contribute to the vulnerability of migrants to HIV infection. The breakdown of social networks and institutions stemming from migration reduces community cohesion, weakening the social norms that regulate sexual behaviour, leading to risky behaviours and increased exposure to HIV infection.

Likewise, many push factors contributing to migration, such as an unbalanced distribution of resources, unemployment, socio-economic instability and political unrest, as well as their status and mobility patterns can also play key role in determining migrants HIV vulnerability.