Abstract

Salwa Muddthir Ismail Fatimah Kahri Amar Abobakre Eisa and Samah Elsir

To examine whether poverty along with its associated factors; low economic status and gender inequality, may predispose women in Sudan to an increased vulnerability to HIV infection. We employed data collected by the Sudan Household Health Survey in 2010. The analysis is restricted to 500 women of reproductive age (15 - 49 years). The proposed model was tested and modified using structural equation modelling. About 60% of the respondents had never acquired formal education and some had received education at primary school level with slightly less than 50% having knowledge on condom use. About 45.5% reported that their husbands were in committed or casual relationships with other women. The results confirmed a direct positive relationship between poverty and HIV, where the regression weight for poverty in the prediction of HIV is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level (less than 0.001). The results add to the growing evidence that poverty and lack of empowerment place women at risk of contracting HIV. The key message for main actors in HIV sector in Sudan is to extend efforts in a manner that creates a balance between implementation of prevention and treatment interventions, without compromising vulnerability of women.