Love in the time of HIV: How beliefs about externalities impact health behavior

Laura Derksen, Adamson Muula and Joep van Oosterhout

Journal of Development Economics, 2022, vol. 159, issue C

Abstract: Despite the widespread availability of lifesaving antiretroviral drugs, demand for HIV testing is low. Antiretrovirals have a positive externality: they prevent HIV transmission. We use an experiment in Malawi to show that informing communities about this externality can shift beliefs and increase HIV testing in the short term, with a larger effect for sexually-active demographics. We also see a change in attitudes toward sexual partners taking antiretrovirals. Learning about a positive externality can increase demand for healthcare.

Keywords: Health behavior; Externalities; Information; Experiment; HIV testing; Stigma (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D62 D83 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:159:y:2022:i:c:s0304387822001353

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102993

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