Documents & Reports

Education and HIV or AIDS prevention : evidence from a randomized evaluation in Western Kenya (English)

Abstract

This brief summarizes the results of a gender impact evaluation study, entitled Education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention : evidence from a randomized evaluation in Western Kenya, conducted... See More +This brief summarizes the results of a gender impact evaluation study, entitled Education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention : evidence from a randomized evaluation in Western Kenya, conducted between 2003 and 2005 in Kenya. The study reports results from randomized evaluation comparing three school-based HIV or AIDS interventions in Kenya on the individual level. After two years the teacher training program had little impact on students' knowledge and self-reported sexual activity and condom use, or on teen childbearing. However, it increased students' tolerance toward people with HIV or AIDS, although this effect was significant only for girls. Girls exposed to the program were more likely to be married to the fathers of their children. Its overall impact on exposure to the HIV risk is unclear. Debates among peers on the role of condoms and an associated essay competition on ways students can protect themselves against AIDS increased self-reported use of condoms but this effect was only significant amongst boys. The self-reported sexual activity did not increase. The condom debate and essay competition took place too recently to detect any possible reduction in childbearing. Reducing the cost of education by paying for school uniforms reduced dropout rates and the incidence of teen childbearing with a similar magnitude of effect for boys and girls. Funding for the study derived from the Partnership for Child Development and the World Bank.
See Less -