HIVAIDS was recognized as a disease of inequality and marginalization. Women arernbecoming more vulnerable to HIV infection than men. Africa leads the HIV infection at arnforefront and nearly 60% of people living with HIV were women of child bearing age at thernend of the year 2001. AIDS virus, also, appears to be increasingly infecting married women inrndeveloping countriesrnA total of 1276 married women aged 15 to 49 were selected in Nazareth town, the capital cityrnof Eastern Shoa zone, using multi stage sampling method. The study aimed at assessingrnvulnerability of married women to HIV infections and their risk-awareness level measured byrnreported history of STDs or high-risk sexual behaviors by married couples and worry to havernbeen infected by HIV respectively, using a structured questionnaire. The study also attemptedrnto assess socio-economic factors contributing to vulnerability to HIVrnResults showed significant proportion of married women (26.8%) to have been vulnerable tornHIV infection as measured by either of the reported prevalence of STIs in married women,rnwhich was 16.8% or prevalence of extra marital sexual relationship in either of the couplesrnwhich was 2.3% and 9.3% in married women and married men respectively. Also, of the 26.8%rnof married women who were vulnerable to HIV infection, more than two third (66.1%) did notrnknow they were at risk.rnixrnWomen who depend economically on their husband and also whose marriage decision to havernbeen motivated for the reason of financial security are found to be more vulnerable to HIVrninfection. Significant proportion of such women was also found to be not aware of their beingrnat risk.rnIn conclusion, significant proportion of married women were vulnerable to HIV infection and,rnthe majority of married women who were vulnerable did not know they were at risk ofrnacquiring HIV. Vulnerability is more in women who were economically dependent on theirrnhusband.rnHence, there is a need in to empower women economically by creating job opportunity andrnalso need of awareness creation on safe sex practices in married life and need on a skill ofrnsexual negotiation especially by targeting married women and engaging married men as well.