From August 1993 to October 1994, 322 women attended or were referred to a female sexually transmitted disease clinic, were studied for the prevalence of HIV infection. No subject had a history of commercial sex work, injection drugs use or blood transfusion within the past 8 years. The majority of women belonged to the low socioeconomic stratum. HIV-1 antibody was found in the sera of 38 women (11.8%). HIV-1 seropositivity was not associated with any type of current sexually transmitted disease such as genital ulcers, serologic markers of syphilis or other sexually transmitted disease as well as history of past sexually transmitted disease within the past 2 years. Significant differential factors were found between the HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative women for self risk assessment and ability to communicate concerns with the husband or partner regarding HIV infection/AIDS. Programs are urgently needed for HIV/AIDS prevention and control to low-income communities and to determine what factors enable the HIV-1 seronegative women to be more assertive in their relationship and whether these skills can be enhanced to eliminate future episodes of STD and transfer these skills to the more vulnerable low-income women. Early diagnosis and prevention of HIV infection among women is a priority for public health interventions both in industrialized and in developing countries.