Globally, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates have been higher in the urban areas
. The
cities, especially in fast urbanizing Sub-Saharan Africa
, present conditions that influence the spatial
characteristics of health including that of HIV/AIDS. Comprised of migrants from varying
socio-cultural backgrounds, and having spatially diverse socio-economic characteristics
, the cities
are bound to have spatial patterns of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that are as heterogeneous as those
at the global, continental, and country levels. This paper reports an endeavour to understand the
spatial characteristics of the epidemic through a case study of people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA) in Nairobi, Kenya. The study, through a questionnaire survey on PLWHA, established
that the AIDS pandemic within the city of Nairobi is spatially heterogeneous. Most of the PLWHA
in the study resided in the densely populated administrative locations of the city. These locations
are also characterised by high density of people living below the urban poverty line
, unhygienic
environment, and insecurity. However, the availability of affordable basic living necessities
, and
the presence of medical, financial and social support, among other reasons, makes these areas
the only feasible residential option for most of the PLWHA. Besides these factors, family reunion
(and separations due to HIV/AIDS), job-search, HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, among other
factors, are influencing the spatial distribution of PLWHA through intra-city residential movement
and in-migration to Nairobi. The research suggests that addressing economic as well as medical
infrastructure would be very important if other mitigation efforts in the spread of HIV are to gain
sustainable effects.