Unlike in most of the world, HIV incidence in the former Soviet Union continues to rise. While international labor migration has been identified as a potentially important contributor to this trend, most attention has been focused on risks of male migrants themselves. This study uses recent household survey data to examine HIV-related perceptions and actions of migrants’ left-behind wives in Armenia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses show that migrants’ wives are significantly more likely to suspect their husbands of extramarital sex than are non-migrants’ wives. The analyses detect greater worries about HIV infection and a higher likelihood of spousal communication on HIV matters among migrants’ wives, compared to non-migrants’ wives, but these differences are largely explained by the suspicion of husband’s extramarital sex. Finally, no difference between the two categories of women in the probability of consistent condom use with husbands is found. These findings are interpreted within the context of patriarchal culture and unequal gender relations in Armenian society as they are further reinforced by male migration. Implications of these findings for policies to increase women’s awareness of HIV risks associated with migration and their ability to reduce those risks are discussed. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Labor migration Former soviet union gender inequality HIV risks and prevention

perception household HIV Infections transmission Human immunodeficiency virus infection Spouses society wife multivariate logistic regression analysis husband interpersonal communication human middle aged statistics and numerical data condom Condoms controlled study priority journal probability extramarital sex family size gender identity Family Characteristics patriarchy Cross-Sectional Studies condom use Young Adult migrant worker cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent male female spouse risk factor Risk Factors Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Extramarital Relations Article infection prevention awareness adult gender migration infection risk utilization Utilization Review Transients and Migrants patient worry risk reduction Armenia attitude to health health survey