Larry Sawers|Eileen Stillwaggon
Understanding the Southern African ‘Anomaly’: Poverty, Endemic Disease and HIV
Gettysburg College
abstract epicentre global hiv epidemic southern africa previous explanations point migration patterns highly skewed income distribution thought promote risky sexual behaviour study emphasizes importance common infectious parasitic diseases increase likelihood hiv transmission increasing contagiousness vulnerability infection using multiple regression analysis countrylevel data authors find socioeconomic variables explain statistically onetenth difference hiv prevalence southern africa low middleincome countries measures five cofactor infections together socioeconomic variables however explain statistically twothirds southern africa difference hiv prevalence conclude relative affluence countries southern africa historical migration patterns tended mask vulnerability majority populations poor high prevalence infectious parasitic diseases diseases replicate cycle poverty produces biological vulnerability coinfections important implication research integrating treatment endemic diseases hivprevention policies may necessary slow spread hiv