We investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, HIV infection among women in an urban South African setting. A random sample of 834 women was recruited into a community-based cross-sectional study. HIV prevalence was 37. 1% with higher prevalence among migrant women (46.0%) than non-migrant women (34.7%), (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.31). The highest HIV prevalence (50.9%) was between ages 26 and 35 years. Having two or more lifetime partners increased the risk of HIV infection (OR = 4.88, 95% CI: 3.01-7.89). Migration, age, marital status, alcohol use, syphilis and gonorrhoea were independently associated with HW infection. Migration increases the risk of HIV infection. Provision of services to treat sexually transmitted diseases and educational empowerment programmes that will promote safer sex among migrant women are urgently needed.

Migration Women South Africa HIV Sexual behaviour

urban population HIV Infections sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection alcohol consumption demography Random Allocation Sampling Studies human risk assessment Sexual Partners priority journal Logistic Models Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence sexually transmitted disease Cross-Sectional Studies South Africa Confidence interval marriage gonorrhea Humans Adolescent male female risk factor Risk Factors Multivariate Analysis Syphilis prevalence Article Questionnaires adult major clinical study migration infection risk age Transients and Migrants