A multilevel analysis of the determinants and cross-national variations of HIV seropositivity in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from the DHS

► Interesting general patterns in the risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. ► Gender disparity in socio-economic risk factors, partly explained by sexual behaviour. ► Background socio-economic risk factors are stronger predictors among women than men. ► Variations in the risk of HIV across countries, and to a lesser extent across regions.