Background: - Cultural institutions and practices disadvantaged peoplernto be at risk of HIV infection or help them to prevent from the risk. Somernof the cultural practices that expose people to the high risk of HIVrninfection include polygamy and widow inheritance.rnObjectives: - This study is aimed at determining KAP of HIV/AIDS,rnmagnitude, and community attitude towards widow inheritance and itsrnperceived risk for HIV transmission.rnMethod: - A community based cross- sectional study was carried outrnduring January - February 2006 among the rural communities in DigalurnTijo woreda of Arsi zone Oromia. A total of 768 households wererninvolved in the study by using systematic random sampling technique.rnData were collected using an interviewer administered Oromiffa versionrnstructured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS forrnwindows version 11.0.rnResults: -The mean HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitude were 39.4rnÂ±13.3&77.4 Â±12.75, respectively. HIV/AIDS attitude of the respondentsrnincreases as their HIV/AIDS knowledge increases. Faithfulness andrnabstinence were the main prevention methods most practiced. Amongrnthe respondents, only 51(6.6%) households were involved in wiferninheritance. In other words, 102 individuals engaged in widowrninheritance practice. For the respondents asked about whether theyrnsupport widow inheritance or not, 672(87.5%) and 96(12.5%) not supportrnand support widow inheritance respectively. For the issue rose onrnwhether the widow inheritance contributes on HIV/AIDS transmission orrnnot 688(89.4%) of them agreed and 80(10.4%) did not agreed. About thernviirnmajority (72.0%) pointed out that no problem would be occurring if widowrninheritance were abounded.rnConclusion and Recommendations: - This study demonstrated lowrnlevel of knowledge and practice but relatively high attitude towardsrnHIV/AIDS. The magnitude of widow inheritance is significant. But widowrninheritance is not supported and its risk is also well perceived.rnAccordingly awareness creation on risk reduction activities wasrnrecommended.