Do Teenagers Respond to HIV Risk Information? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Kenya
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(Complimentary)
Abstract
We use a randomized experiment to test whether and what information changes teenagers' sexual behavior in Kenya. Providing information on the relative risk of HIV infection by partner's age led to a 28 percent decrease in teen pregnancy, an objective proxy for the incidence of unprotected sex. Self-reported sexual behavior data suggests substitution away from older (riskier) partners and toward same-age partners. In contrast, the official abstinence-only HIV curriculum had no impact on teen pregnancy. These results suggest that teenagers are responsive to risk information, but their sexual behavior is more elastic on the intensive than on the extensive margin. (JEL D83, I12, J13, O12)Citation
Dupas, Pascaline. 2011. "Do Teenagers Respond to HIV Risk Information? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Kenya." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 3 (1): 1-34. DOI: 10.1257/app.3.1.1Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief
- I12 Health Production
- J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
- O12 Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
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