Longer secondary schooling reduces the risk of contracting HIV, particularly for girls. Harvard researchers found this trend after a study in Botswana.
According to the research an estimated 2.1 million individuals are newly infected with HIV every year. Education is known to be closely associated with health, but whether or not it actually protects against HIV infection has been a debated topic for decades.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HIV RISK
The research used a policy reform in secondary schooling in Botswana as a ‘natural experiment’ to determine a casual effect for education on HIV incidence.
Botswana has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world, with nearly a quarter of the population aged 15 and above infected, according to Avert.
For each additional year of secondary school (grades 8-12), students appeared to decrease cumulative their risk of HIV infection. Individuals with an extra year of secondary schooling were 8% less likely to test positive for HIV about a decade later, when most of those exposed to the education system reform were in their mid 20s. Effects of education on the spread of the virus were particularly significant in women, whose HIV risk dropped by 12% with each added year of secondary school.
EDUCATION A COST-EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE MEASURE
The first author of the study, Jan-Walter De Neve said the findings confirm that secondary schooling is a crucial structural determinant of HIV infection. Researchers also believe that education could actually be a cost-effective way to prevent HIV infections.
“Expanding the opportunities of young people through secondary schooling will not only have economic benefits but will also yield health benefits and should be a key priority for countries with generalised HIV epidemics.”
HIV IN BOTSWANA
Researchers examined data from about 7,000 people who participated in the Botswana AIDS Impact Surveys-national household surveys. The survey included HIV-testing to people who were at least 18 years old at the time of the surveys.
The study, published online in The Lancet Global Health, suggests that schooling should be considered alongside other interventions a part of a “multi-pronged ‘combination’ HIV prevention strategy.”
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD – CLOSING THE HIV GAP
Recently a HIV testing and counseling campaign in Botswana, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania has set a new Guinness World Record by testing 4367 people over an 8-hour period.
“This is a true testament of the coordination and mobilization of local resources to achieve a magnificent result within such a short period of time. We hope to do more in actively involving civil society organizations and the community to achieve greater outcomes,” said Grace Muzila, National Coordinator of the Botswana National AIDS Coordinating Agency.
Keisha Eldred Mushi, one of the participants said that he decided to get tested so that he could be aware of his HIV status. “I have big dreams that I would like to achieve in life like everybody else and I want to stay healthy and prevent myself from HIV infection.’’
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Study Discerns Secondary Education Can Close the HIV gap
