| Abstract |
Using individual and household-level
survey data from the Africa Centre for Health and Populations
Studies (AC), our research will examine the links between
health behaviors and socio-economic status (SES), particularly
income. The aim is to document whether household resources
contribute to the health gradient – those observed positive
correlation between health and wealth or other measures of
SES – through better knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS,
less risky sexual behavior and/or less participation in other
behaviors damaging to health (such as tobacco use or heavy
drinking). Primary research questions include: (1) What is
the relationship between income and (a) number of sexual partners;
(b) condom use; or (c) other health-related behavior such
as smoking and drinking? (3) Which socio-economic factors
other than income (such as schooling) are correlated with
number of sexual partners and condom use? (3) To what extent
do these relationships differ between men and women?
Understanding the health gradient is important for evaluating
policies related to income support and targeting health interventions
such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Africa. Yet few
studies on causal mechanisms underlying the health gradient
use individual or household-level date from developing countries.
Our study is significant because it will help to fill this
gap by exploring the two-way causality between adult health
and household resources, focusing on health behaviors as one
mechanism. The longer-term research goal is to study, in collaboration
with the AC, the links between income and who comes for ARV
treatment to follow the impact of ARV treatment on household
outcomes and to e3xplore the relationship between prevention
and treatment. The AC is likely to begin the rollout of ARV
treatment sometime in 2005. Thus, our research is designed
to complement the AC’s ongoing research work in HIV
prevention and treatment. The rich longitudinal data available
in the AC dataset means that our initial cross-sectional analysis
of correlations between SES and health behaviors can be readily
extended to longitudinal analysis of ARV roll-out in the survey
area. We anticipate that this will be attractive for future
outside funding, since the NIH states that “at
present, the most effective way to prevent or reduce the spread
of HIV/AIDS is through behavioral change….NIH will continue
to sponsor research related to…..strengthening our understanding
of the determinants, trends, and processes of HIV-related
risk behaviors and the consequences of HIV infection”.
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