Migration continues to play an important role in the spread of HIV-1 in South Africa. The direction of spread of the epidemic is not only from returning migrant men to their rural partners, but also from women to their migrant partners. Prevention efforts will need to target both migrant men and women who remain at home.

Migration is an independent risk factor for HIV infection among men. Workplace interventions are urgently needed to prevent further infections. High rates of HIV were found among rural women, and the migration status of the regular partner was not a major risk factor for HIV. Rural women lack access to appropriate prevention interventions, regardless of their partners' migration status.

No abstract