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HIV testing, behavior change, and the transition to adulthood in Malawi

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  • Beegle, Kathleen
  • Poulin, Michelle
  • Shapira, Gil

Abstract

For young adults living in countries with AIDS epidemics, getting an HIV test may influence near-term decisions, such as when to leave school, when to marry, and when to have a first child. These behaviors, which define the transition from adolescence to adulthood, have long-term implications on well-being and directly affect a person's risk of contracting HIV. Using an experimental design embedded in a panel survey from Malawi, this study assesses the impact of voluntary counseling and testing of young adults for HIV on these decisions. The results show negligible intent-to-treat effect of HIV testing on behaviors. There is some suggestive evidence on differential response by wealth and by prior beliefs about one's status.

Suggested Citation

  • Beegle, Kathleen & Poulin, Michelle & Shapira, Gil, 2014. "HIV testing, behavior change, and the transition to adulthood in Malawi," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6825, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Manuela Angelucci & Daniel Bennett, 2021. "Adverse Selection in the Marriage Market: HIV Testing and Marriage in Rural Malawi [Marrying Up: The Role of Sex Ratio in Assortative Matching]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(5), pages 2119-2148.
    2. Patrick Aylward & Hildah Essendi & Kristen Little & Nicholas Wilson, 2020. "Demand for self‐tests: Evidence from a Becker–DeGroot–Marschak mechanism field experiment," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 489-507, April.
    3. Wilson, Nicholas, 2018. "Altruism in preventive health behavior: At-scale evidence from the HIV/AIDS pandemic," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 119-129.
    4. Wilson, Nicholas, 2016. "Antiretroviral therapy and demand for HIV testing: Evidence from Zambia," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 221-240.
    5. Li Han & Xinzheng Shi & Ming-ang Zhang, 2022. "How Does Matching Uncertainty Affect Marital Surplus? Theory and Evidence from China," HKUST CEP Working Papers Series 202202, HKUST Center for Economic Policy.
    6. Poulin, Michelle & Dovel, Kathryn & Watkins, Susan Cotts, 2016. "Men with Money and the “Vulnerable Women” Client Category in an AIDS Epidemic," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 16-30.

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