Measuring the occurrence of HIV infection is insufficient to make useful recommendations onrnhealth education strategies for the population. We assessed high-risk behaviors for HIVrntransmission in the general population and female sex workers, willingness for voluntaryrncounseling and testing and HIV prevalence among pregnant mothers. A cross-sectional study onrnhigh-risk behavior among commercial sex workers and a random selection of the general malernand female population was conducted from March to April 2001 in Asossa town.rnSimultaneously, anonymous unlinked surveillance for HIV was conducted in Asossa andrnBambasi town. Mean age at first marriage for the general population and commercial sexrnworkers was 18.9 and 15.2 years, respectively. [t=4.93; 95 % CI of 2.58-5.08]. Of 527 adults 67rn(12.7%) engaged in commercial sex and 88 (16.7%) had non-regular sexual contacts in the 12rnmonths prior to the survey. Mean age at which female sex workers first received money forrnsexual intercourse was 18.4 years. Persistent use of condoms by female sex workers with payingrnand non-paying client was 74% and 64.9% respectively. Knowledge on HIV prevention andrnwillingness to receive voluntary counseling and testing was very low in both commercial sexrnworkers and general population. HIV prevalence in Asossa town was 19.3% (34/176) andrnoutside of Asossa (including Bambasi) was 4.7% (4/85). For urban residence, highest HIVrnprevalence was found in pregnant mothers of 15-19 years of age and only low income (