Reproductive Health and Behavior, HIV/AIDS, and Poverty in Africa

Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program Working Paper No. 219

75 Pages Posted: 24 Apr 2007 Last revised: 19 Aug 2008

Date Written: May 2007

Abstract

This paper examines the complex linkages of poverty, reproductive/sexual health and behavior, and HIV/AIDS in Africa. It addresses the following questions: (1) what have we learned to date about these links and what are the gaps in knowledge to be addressed by further research; (2) what is known about the effectiveness for HIV prevention of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS interventions and policies in Africa; and (3) what are the appropriate methodological approaches to research on these questions. With regard to what has been learned so far, the paper pays considerable attention in particular to the evidence regarding the impacts of a range of HIV interventions on risk behaviors and HIV incidence. Other sections review the extensive microeconomic literature on the impacts of AIDS on households and children in Africa and the effects of the epidemic on sexual risk behavior and fertility decisions. With regard to methodology, the paper assesses the approaches used in the literature to deal with, among other things, the problem of self-selection and non-randomness in the placement of HIV and reproductive health programs. Data requirements for different research questions are discussed, and an effort is made to assess what researchers can learn from existing sources such as Demographic and Health Surveys.

Suggested Citation

Glick, Peter, Reproductive Health and Behavior, HIV/AIDS, and Poverty in Africa (May 2007). Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program Working Paper No. 219, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=982109 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.982109

Peter Glick (Contact Author)

RAND Corporation ( email )

1200 South Hayes Street
Arlington, VA 22202
United States

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