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The Impact of HIV/AIDS and ARV Treatment on Worker Absenteeism: Implications for African Firms

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  • James Habyarimana
  • Bekezela Mbakile
  • Cristian Pop-Eleches

Abstract

We characterize medium and long-run labor market impacts of HIV/AIDS and ARV treatment using unique panel data of worker absenteeism and information from an AIDS treatment program at a large mining firm in Botswana. We present robust evidence of an inverse-V shaped pattern in worker absenteeism around the time of ARV treatment inception. Absenteeism one to four years after treatment start is low and similar to nonenrolled workers at the firm. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that for the typical manufacturing firm in Africa, the benefits of treatment to the firm cover 8–22 percent of the cost of treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • James Habyarimana & Bekezela Mbakile & Cristian Pop-Eleches, 2010. "The Impact of HIV/AIDS and ARV Treatment on Worker Absenteeism: Implications for African Firms," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 45(4), pages 809-839.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:45:y:2010:i:4:p:809-839
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    3. Beniamino Callegari & Christophe Feder, 2022. "A Literature Review of Pandemics and Development: the Long-Term Perspective," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 183-212, March.
    4. Chicoine, Luke, 2012. "AIDS mortality and its effect on the labor market: Evidence from South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(2), pages 256-269.
    5. Ahmed, Shahira & Autrey, Jessica & Katz, Ingrid T. & Fox, Matthew P. & Rosen, Sydney & Onoya, Dorina & Bärnighausen, Till & Mayer, Kenneth H. & Bor, Jacob, 2018. "Why do people living with HIV not initiate treatment? A systematic review of qualitative evidence from low- and middle-income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 72-84.
    6. Malcolm Keswell & Justine Burns & Rebecca Thornton, 2012. "Evaluating the Impact of Health Programmes on Productivity," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 24(4), pages 302-315.
    7. Arimoto, Yutaka & Ito, Seiro & Kudo, Yuya & Tsukada, Kazunari, 2013. "Stigma, social relationship and HIV testing in the workplace : evidence from South Africa," IDE Discussion Papers 386, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    8. Beniamino Callegari & Christophe Feder, 2022. "The long-term economic effects of pandemics: toward an evolutionary approach [Epidemics and trust: the case of the Spanish flu]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 31(3), pages 715-735.
    9. Ejrnæs, Mette & García-Miralles, Esteban & Gørtz, Mette & Lundborg, Petter, 2023. "When Death Was Postponed: The Effect of HIV Medication on Work, Savings, and Marriage," IZA Discussion Papers 16228, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Rodolfo Manuelli & Emircan Yurdagul, 2021. "AIDS, Human Capital and Development," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 42, pages 178-193, October.
    11. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Lauren Hersch Nicholas & Keshar M. Ghimire, 2017. "The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Laws on Social Security Disability Insurance and Workers' Compensation Benefit Claiming," Working Papers id:12111, eSocialSciences.
    12. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Keshar M. Ghimire & Lauren Hersch Nicholas, 2021. "Marijuana legalization and disability claiming," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 453-469, February.
    13. Aleksandra Jakubowski & Katherine Snyman & Dalsone Kwarisiima & Norton Sang & Rachel Burger & Laura Balzer & Tamara Clark & Gabriel Chamie & Starley Shade & Craig Cohen & Elizabeth Bukusi & Edwin Char, 2018. "High CD4 counts associated with better economic outcomes for HIV-positive adults and their HIV-negative household members in the SEARCH Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, June.
    14. Declan French & Jonathan Brink & Till Bärnighausen, 2019. "Early HIV treatment and labour outcomes: A case study of mining workers in South Africa," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 204-218, February.
    15. Tirivayi, Nyasha & Groot, Wim, 2018. "Does integrating AIDS treatment with food assistance affect labor supply? Evidence from Zambia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 79-91.
    16. James Levinsohn & Zoë M. McLaren & Olive Shisana & Khangelani Zuma, 2013. "HIV Status and Labor Market Participation in South Africa," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(1), pages 98-108, March.
    17. Marinescu, Ioana, 2014. "HIV, wages, and the skill premium," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 181-197.
    18. Rodolfo Manuelli & Emircan Yurdagul, 2021. "AIDS, Human Capital and Development," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 42, pages 178-193, October.
    19. Patenaude, Bryan N. & Chimbindi, Natsayi & Pillay, Deenan & Bärnighausen, Till, 2018. "The impact of ART initiation on household food security over time," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 175-184.

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