Objective To investigate the risk factors of HIV infection among women in the Dodoma region, Tanzania. Methods The protocol were assessed through a population-based cross sec-tional study. The participants were obtained by randomly selecting clusters of 10-households from Unga imited, Babati town and Matufa roadside village which are urban, semi-urban and rural communi-ties respectively. Informed verbal consent for participation in an interview and in HIV testing was sought from each respondent. Blood samples were collected from each consenting individual for HIV antibody testing using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and all positive sera were con-firmed using repeated ELISA tests. Information on risk factors was obtained through the interview process using a structured questionnaire. Results Of 567 women who gave blood samples, 48 (8.5 % ) were HIV positive. The HIV seroprevalence rates among women in the urban area, the semi-ur-ban area and in the rural village were 14.4%, 6.9% and 2.3% respectively. Factors associated with significantly higher HIV seroprevalence were urban residence,history of having travelled out of Dodoma region within Tanzania, as well as having travelled abroad, having multiple sexual partners and having sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol. Women who reported ever having used condoms had significantly higher probability of being infected with HIV than those who had never used condoms, suggesting that condom use may be a marker of high risk sexual behavior and that condom use was probably not adhered to in a way that consistently protects against HIV infection.Conclusions The results suggest the need for health education interventions aimed at increasing ap-propriate and consistent condom use and reduction of the number of sexual partners.