Sabine Gabrysch|Tansy Edwards|Judith R. Glynn
The role of context: neighbourhood characteristics strongly influence HIV risk in young women in Ndola, Zambia
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
summary objectives examine effect neighbourhood socioeconomic factors human immunodeficiency virus hiv prevalence young women aged 1524 years zambia methods reanalysis crosssectional populationbased serosurvey nearly 2000 adults conducted 19971998 ndola zambia neighbourhoodlevel socioeconomic status ses defined using availability running water electricity addition educational employment occupational characteristics adults older 24 years neighbourhoodlevel individuallevel risk factors analysed multivariate multilevel logistic regression model using hierarchical conceptual framework results young women living neighbourhoods lower middle ses higher hiv prevalences higher ses neighbourhoods lower ses adjusted odds ratio 24 95 confidence interval ci 1345 middle ses adjusted 24 95 ci 1347 young women living near market increased risk hiv infection 29 95 ci 1459 proximity health centre seemed protective 04 95 ci 0210 controlling neighbourhood factors better education risk factor hiv infection 15 95 ci 1021 although significant individuallevel analysis conclusions communitylevel factors important individuallevel factors determining hiv infection young women confining analyses individuallevel factors ignores underlying causes modifying effect context individual behaviour may even lead different conclusions concerning role individuallevel factors