The migratory experiences of people with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) in Wilmington, North Carolina

People with a serious illness such as HIV/AIDS may migrate in order to receive support from family and friends and/or better health care. In this paper, I examine the experiences of people with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) that are initial and return migrants to Wilmington, North Carolina. For the study this paper is based upon, I conducted 63 interviews of service providers, PWHA and community members in Wilmington, North Carolina. Qualitative data analysis reveals that for return migrants, migration networks made the move and getting ‘into the system’ easier while initial migrants struggled through the relocation process and often moved for reasons unrelated to family or friends in the area.