Examining determinants of HIV/AIDS

Abstract: Many infectious diseases interact with their immediate environments. Prevention strategies have to be executed on the individual level as well as within the risk environment. Risk factors refer to factors outside of the individual that influence the risk of transmission. However, this thesis focuses on macro level issues such as socioeconomic, political, demographic and technological influential factors. There is consensus that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on economic growth and studies show evidence of that good health, often proxied by life expectancy, has a positive significant effect on labour productivity and economic growth. To fill a void in the literature, this thesis aims to examine the role of some of the socioeconomic, demographic, political and technological factors that could increase the spread of HIV/AIDS. In addition, such analysis is important in order to limit risk and allocate relief money more efficiently. Using public data from the World Bank, UNAIDS and the Integrated Network for Societal Conflict Research results from panel data analysis show that most factors examined display a negative relationship with HIV/AIDS in the sample of 45 sub Saharan African countries.