The Human Development Roots of HIV and Implications for Policy: A Cross-Country Analysis

Abstract

This paper argues that one-dimensional policies for addressing HIV, especially if technically oriented, will not be as effective as those that also involve elements of human development. The paper uses two types of evidence to lend weight to this assertion. First it presents qualitative evidence of the links between lack of achievements in human development, the spread of HIV infection and ineffectiveness of policies to prevent HIV. Second, it analyzes cross-country data from more than 70 countries to argue that human development can have quite significant implications for HIV prevalence.