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Is Education the “Window of Hope” to reducing HIV transmissions in Southern Africa? Evidence from Six recent Country DHS Data.

Million Phiri, University Of Zambia
Nkuye Moyo, University Of Zambia

Statistics are now familiar, but still staggering. Globally, since its discovery in the 1980s, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed about 32 million people and most of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Literature suggests a negative linear relationship between educational attainment and HIV infection rates. This study sought to answer the question: is education “a window of hope to reducing HIV infection among men in Southern Africa? Analysis was conducted on six country Demographic and Health Surveys from South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. The unit of analysis were men aged 15-55 years. Although DHS results reveal that comprehensive knowledge about HIV prevention is almost universal among respondents surveyed in all countries, findings show that men with secondary or higher level of education tend to practice safer sex behaviors compared to those with only primary or no formal education. Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that men with secondary or higher level of education were more likely to use condom during paid sexual encounter compared to those with primary or no education. There is need for country in the region to consider strengthening education policy reforms to enhance access and provision to education for all especially to the most vulnerable communities such as rural areas.

Keywords: Demographic and social surveys, Health and morbidity, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P4.