HIV/AIDS has posed a persistent challenge to public health worldwide, with its prevalence and transmission patterns exhibiting significant regional disparities. Manipur, located in northeastern India, has been particularly affected by the HIV epidemic, with its unique socio-cultural and geographical characteristics influencing the spread of the virus. This article offers a detailed examination of the spatio-temporal trends of HIV prevalence in Manipur from 2003 to 2020, focusing on district-wise differentials and the distinctive dynamics between hill and valley regions. 
Utilizing a robust dataset spanning several years, the study uncovers significant geographical and temporal variations in HIV prevalence. The findings reveal a complex interplay of socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors contributing to these trends. Location of Manipur close to the Golden Triangle sharing with long international borders with Myanmar in the east which happens to be one of the main route of drugs and heroin trafficking makes the state generally vulnerable to not only drug trafficking but also associated HIV infections. Besides, Churachandpur district of Manipur also shares internal boundary with Mizoram, which is the highest HIV prevalent state in the country. Ethnic similarity has been responsible for the migration of people from the former into the latter.