Risk Analysis DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01765.x Concern About HIV and AIDS Among Older People in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya Gloria Chepngeno-Langat, 1, * Jane C. Falkingham, 2 Nyovani J. Madise, 3 and Maria Evandrou 1 The article explores the way that social networks and personal experiences affect perceived HIV-related concerns among people aged 50 years or older living in a low resource neigh- borhood with high HIV prevalence in Nairobi, Kenya. Multiple logistic regression is used to model the association between the reporting of an HIV-related concern and individual-level characteristics, personal experiences, and social interaction. The main concerns regarding HIV reported by older people in the study included caring for orphaned children (65%), caring for people with AIDS (48%), and losing material and social support from adult chil- dren (36%). Interestingly, 38% of respondents voiced concerns about HIV infection among older people. Respondents who had been individually affected by HIV and AIDS, who were part of a wide social network, or who participated in community activities were frequently more likely to report a concern. The findings highlight the significance of the role of social interaction and social networks in the diffusion of information and knowledge. These find- ings have implications for HIV and AIDS policy and programs, highlighting the potential for social networks and community-level interventions to educate and increase awareness about HIV and AIDS among older people. Community leaders can make good peer educators and communication agents for HIV/AIDS campaigns. Additionally, the recognized high level of personal vulnerability to HIV infection among older people suggests the need for targeted sexual behavior change programs among this often neglected group. KEY WORDS: HIV/AIDS; older people; social interaction; sub-Saharan Africa; urban 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa is the region hardest hit by HIV and AIDS, accounting for over two-thirds of HIV cases globally. (1) The adverse effects of HIV and AIDS manifest through health-related, social, 1 Centre for Research on Ageing, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. 2 School of Social Sciences and ESRC Centre for Population Change, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. 3 Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southamp- ton, SO17 1BJ, UK. ∗ Address correspondence to Gloria Chepngeno-Langat, Centre for Research on Ageing, University of Southampton, Murray Building (58), Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK; tel: +44 (0)23 8059 2571; fax: +44 (0)23 8059 8649; tete@soton.ac.uk. and economic impacts at the individual, household, and macro levels. Much of the literature on HIV and AIDS at the individual level has focused on young adults (usually 16–49) as they are seen to be most at risk from the disease, or on children who contract HIV from their mothers. People aged 50 or older have received considerably less attention than their younger counterparts. HIV and AIDS, however, af- fect older people both directly, through infection, and indirectly, through caring for people with AIDS or orphaned children. (2,3) In addition, older people are affected by the loss of support they would have received from adult members of the family who are ill or die from AIDS. This is especially pertinent as the majority of those infected with HIV are people 1 0272-4332/11/0100-0001$22.00/1 C  2012 Society for Risk Analysis