Fishing in dangerous waters: Ecology, gender and economy in HIV risk

This paper focuses on a neglected factor in literature on the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa: the role of the eco-social environment in shaping HIV risk. I argue that the changing ecological environment of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, mapping onto a gendered economy, shaped fisherfolk’s sexual relationships and sexual mixing patterns in ways that were consequential for their HIV risk. Specifically, I show how disrupted lake and fish ecology had an impact on fishermen’s sexual, domestic and economic partnerships, as well as how it contributed to the “sex for fish” economy in Nyanza Province, Kenya. I also show the consequences of fishermen’s relative wealth on transactional relationships with school girls and women in lakeside communities. The paper is based on ethnographic fieldwork over a seven month period among the Luo ethnic group, which has the highest HIV rates in Kenya. The study included 74 individual and focus group interviews in communities around Lake Victoria, as well as 20 key informant interviews. Additionally, literature reviews on fishing and sexual economies as well as on ecological research in Lake Victoria are employed. Exploring linkages between these literatures and fieldwork findings forms the basis of this paper. I argue that solely focusing on individual level HIV prevention strategies is limited without taking into account the eco-social context of individual sexual decision making.

Research highlights
► This paper focuses on a neglected factor in literature on the African HIV epidemic: the role of the eco-social environment in shaping HIV risk.
► The paper shows how changing Lake Victoria ecology, mapping onto a gendered economy, shaped fisherfolk's sexual mixing patterns and subsequent HIV risk.
► The paper is based on ethnographic interview based fieldwork in Nyanza province, Kenya.
► It illustrates the importance of taking into account the eco-social context of individual sexual decision making in HIV prevention.