Urban health in Johannesburg: The importance of place in understanding intra-urban inequalities in a context of migration and HIV

Developing country urban contexts present multiple challenges to those responsible for ensuring the good health of urban populations. These include urban growth, migration, informal settlements, intra-urban inequalities and – in some cases – high HIV prevalence. Using Johannesburg as a case study, this paper explores the complexities of the urban context by comparing the social determinants of urban health between migrant groups residing in the inner-city and a peripheral urban informal settlement. It is argued that any attempt to improve the health of urban populations in the context of migration and HIV requires understanding that ‘place matters’.