Kharsany, Ayesha Bibi Mahomed.Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.Naicker, Nivashnee.2017-05-152017-05-1520152015http://hdl.handle.net/10413/14473Master of Medical Science in Public Health Medicine. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College 2015.In South Africa young women bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infection however, risk factors for HIV acquisition are not fully understood in this setting. In a cohort of 245 HIV negative women, we used proportional hazard regression analysis to examine the association of demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics with HIV acquisition. The overall HIV incidence rate (IR) was 7.20 per 100 women years (wy), 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 4.20–9.80]. Women 18 to 24 years had the highest HIV incidence [IR 13.20 per 100 wy, 95% CI 6.59–23.62] and were almost three times more likely to acquire HIV compared to women 25 years and older [adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 2.61, 95% CI 1.05–6.47]. Similarly, women in relationships with multiple sex partners [IR 8.97 per 100 wy, 95% CI 5.40–14.0] had more than twice the risk of acquiring HIV when compared to women who had no partner or who had a husband or stable partner (aHR 2.47, 95% CI 0.98–6.26). HIV prevention programmes must address young women’s vulnerability and promote safer sex practices for high risk women.en-ZAHIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome--South Africa--Durban.HIV infections--Complications--South Africa--Durban.Antiretroviral agents--South Africa--Durban.HIV-positive women--South Africa--Durban.Theses--Public health medicine.HIV acquisition.Thesis