Is Sex Like Driving? Risk Compensation Associated with Randomized Male Circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya

Nicholas Wilson, Wentao Xiong and Christine Mattson
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Wentao Xiong: Harvard Business School, http://www.hbs.edu/
Christine Mattson: University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, http://www.uic.edu/sph

No 2011-09, Center for Development Economics from Department of Economics, Williams College

Abstract: Mass adult male circumcision campaigns for HIV prevention are underway across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, concern remains about risk compensation associated with the reduction in the probability of HIV transmission per risky act. This paper examines the be- havioral response to male circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya. Contrary to the presumption of risk compensation, we find that the response due to the perceived reduction in HIV transmission appears to have been a reduction in risky sexual behavior. We suggest a mechanism for this finding: circumcision reduces fatalism about acquiring HIV/AIDS and increases the salience of the tradeoff between engaging in additional risky behavior and avoiding acquiring HIV. We also find what appears to be a competing effect that does not operate through the circumcision recipient's belief about the reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; male circumcision; risk compensation; beliefs; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D81 D84 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2011-08, Revised 2012-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dev, nep-exp and nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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