Socio-economic Factors behind HIV Prevalence and Risky Sexual Behaviors in Ethiopia
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study analyzes the socioeconomic factors behind HIV prevalence and risky sexual
behaviors using the 2000 and 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. The
study also examines changes in risky sexual behaviors occurred between the two surveys.
Econometric models used in the study include Heckman Probit model for HIV
prevalence, Proportional Hazard model for age at first intercourse, and Probit model for
condom use and number of sexual partners. According to the results of Heckman Probit
model, Women who attend higher education are at lower risk of HIV infection, whereas
those who attend primary education are at higher risk. However, education appears to
have insignificant effect for men’s HIV infection. On the other hand, wealth has a
protective effect against HIV for men, whereas women of highest wealth quintile are at
higher risk of HIV infection. Marriage for women and urban residence for both sexes
consistently predicts higher HIV prevalence.
With regard to the effect of education and wealth on risky sexual behaviors, both factors
are associated with lower risky behaviors and the protective effects of these factors are
more apparent in 2005 data. The exception to this fact is that education increases hazard
rate of early sexual initiation for males in both survey data. Marriage and urban
residence significantly increase risky behaviors, with exceptions that marriage reduces
multiple partnerships and urban residence increases the probability of condom use.
Changes in sexual behaviors are more pronounced among men than women. Compared
to the earlier survey (2000), men have experienced later age at first sex, lower
probability of multiple partners and higher probability of condom use in the later survey
(2005). With exception of lower probability of multiple partners, women, however,
exhibited earlier sexual initiation in 2005 than in 2000. Hence, the study assures that
there are still opportunities to reduce HIV prevalence by devising policies which promote
behavioral changes among women and the poor and illiterate society.
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Keywords
Socioeconomic Factors behind HIV Prevalence