Epidemiology and risk factors of HIV among women living in urban areas of Tanzania

Introduction: Approximately, one in 20 people are living with HIV infection in which women are more than men in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the Tanzania estimate of HIV prevalence among women has been decreased from 7.7% in 2004 to 6.2% in 2011-12 whereas for men the decrease is from 5.7% to 3.8%. Studies have shown that HIV prevalence among women is more than men. Therefore, present study estimates the prevalence of HIV and risky sexual behaviour among women who lived in urban areas. 

 

Methods: The Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS, 2011-12) data has been used for the present study. The sample sizes for urban and rural women who were tested for HIV and have ever had sex was 2227 and 6210 respectively. Bivariate and multivariate like Logistic regression analyses were used. 

Results: The present study reveals that rural women are significantly less likely to be HIV infected as compare to urban women (OR = 0.612, p<0.000). About 10.1% urban women are HIV infected whereas 5.8% women in rural areas. In Urban areas women of age groups 20-24 and 45-49 years are (6.9% and 17.3%) HIV infected, whereas in rural areas less women found to be HIV infected (3.7% and 8.2%). Those women who have more than 5 sex partners are significantly four times more likely to be HIV infected as compare to women has one sex partner (OR = 4.49, p<0.00).

 

Conclusion: The study found that urban women have more multiple sex partners than rural women, which is one of the important determinant of transmission of HIV among urban women. There is an urgent need for a short and effective program to control the HIV epidemic in urban area of Tanzania especially for women.