In an effort to provide information that can guide prevention strategies, this study
determined the risk factors for HIV infection in Namibia and estimated the potential
for HIV prevention. The study adopted a cross sectional research design with a
sample of 14296 VCT clients from Oshana, Khomas and Kavango regions of
Namibia for the period of 2009 to 2012. A multivariate logistic regression analysis
was used to identify risk factors for HIV infection among VCT clients. For risk
factors which are amenable to intervention, the Population Attributable Risk Percent
(PAR %) was computed. The magnitudes of PAR% were then used as the basis for
selecting risk factors that pose the greatest health threat to the population for
prioritisation in HIV programming. From a targeting perspective, sex, condom use,
marital status, region of residence, male circumcision status, age and level of
education were found to be significant predictors of HIV infection. Alcohol use was
not associated with HIV infection in these regions. Among these risk factors, not
using condoms and not being circumcised are amenable to intervention and
interventions that eliminate exposure to these risk factors can avert up to 22% and
18% of the disease burden respectively assuming all other conditions remain the
same.