The Heterogeneous Effects of HIV Testing

An extensive multi-disciplinary literature examines the effects of learning one's HIV status on subsequent risky sexual behaviors. However, many of these studies rely on non-experimental designs; use self-reported outcome measures, or both. This study investigates the effects of a randomly assigned home based HIV testing and counseling (HTC) intervention on risky sexual behaviors and schooling investments among school-age females in Malawi. The study finds no overall effects on HIV, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-2), or achievement test scores at follow-up. However, among the small group of individuals who tested positive for HIV, a large increase in the probability of contracting HSV-2 is found, with this effect stronger among those surprised by their test results. Similarly, those surprised by HIV-negative test results see a significant improvement in achievement test scores, consistent with increased returns to investments in human capital. The finding of increased HSV-2 prevalence among HIV-positive individuals suggests that the conventional wisdom that those who learn they are HIV-positive will adopt safer sexual practices should be treated with caution.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Baird, Sarah, Gong, Erick, McIntosh, Craig, Özler, Berk
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2014-03
Subjects:	ABSENTEEISM, ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME, ADOLESCENTS, AGED, AIDS EPIDEMIC, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, BIOLOGICAL OUTCOMES, BLOOD SAMPLES, BURNS, CASUAL PARTNERS, CHLAMYDIA, CLEANLINESS, CLINICS, CONDOM, CONDOM PROMOTION, CONDOM USE, CONDOMS, CONFERENCE ON POPULATION, COUNSELING INTERVENTION, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, DIAGNOSTICS, EPIDEMIOLOGY, FAMILY PLANNING, FEMALE, FEMALES, FERTILITY, GENDER, GENDER DIFFERENCES, GENDER GAP, GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, GLOBAL HIV/AIDS, GONORRHEA, HEALTH INFORMATION, HERPES, HERPES SIMPLEX, HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS, HIV, HIV DATA, HIV INFECTION, HIV INFECTIONS, HIV POSITIVE, HIV PREVALENCE, HIV PREVENTION, HIV TEST, HIV TESTING, HIV TRANSMISSION, HIV/AIDS, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, HUMAN CAPITAL, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, HYGIENE, IMMUNE DEFICIENCY, IMMUNODEFICIENCY, IMPACT OF HIV, INCIDENCE OF HIV, INFECTIOUS DISEASES, INFORMED CONSENT, INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, LIFE EXPECTANCIES, LIFE EXPECTANCY, MARRIED MEN, MEDICINE, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, MORBIDITY, MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, MORTALITY RATES, MOTHER, MOTHER-TO-CHILD, MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION, NURSES, ORAL SEX, OUTPATIENT CLINICS, POINT-OF-CARE, POLICY DISCUSSIONS, POLICY RESEARCH, POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER, POPULATION ASSOCIATION, PRACTITIONERS, PREVALENCE, PREVALENCE RATE, PREVALENCE RATES, PREVENTION STRATEGIES, PRIMARY SCHOOL, PROGRESS, PUBLIC HEALTH, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPECT, RISK BEHAVIOR, RISK FACTORS, RISK OF TRANSMISSION, RISK REDUCTION, RISKY BEHAVIOR, RISKY BEHAVIORS, RISKY SEX, RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, ROLE MODELS, RURAL AREAS, SAFER SEX, SECONDARY SCHOOL, SEX, SEX PRACTICES, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, SEXUAL PARTNERS, SEXUAL PRACTICES, SEXUAL RISK, SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR, SEXUAL TRANSMISSION, SEXUALLY ACTIVE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, SOCIAL SCIENCE, STIS, SUBSISTENCE FARMING, SYPHILIS, TEENAGERS, THERAPY, TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE, TREATMENT, TROPICAL MEDICINE, UNAIDS, UNINFECTED PARTNER, UNPROTECTED SEX, UNSAFE SEX, VIRUS, VOLUNTARY COUNSELING, WHOLE BLOOD SAMPLES, YOUNG ADULTS, YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG WOMEN,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/03/19322060/heterogeneous-effects-hiv-testin http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17737
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