Economic shocks and risky sexual behaviours in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the literature. Issue 2 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cust, Henry; Jones, Harriet; Powell-Jackson, Tim; Lépine, Aurélia; Radice, Rosalba
• Is Part Of: Journal of development effectiveness. Volume 13:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Economic shocks -- risky sexual behaviours -- HIV -- transactional sex -- systematic review -- literature review; Economic development -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Economic development; Economic history; Developing countries; Periodicals; 338.91724
• DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2021.1928734
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1943-9342

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We document the extent to which economic shocks through economic incentives explain HIV transmission through risky sexual behaviours in LMICs. We include 35 papers containing 31 unique negative and 11 unique positive economic shocks combined with over 320 health and risky sex outcomes. We find a diverse literature with varying empirical approaches showing increases in risky sexual behaviours are more sensitive to negative shocks than decreases are to positive shocks. Those already at risk of engaging in transactional sex are particularly vulnerable to increasing risky behaviours. Protecting against negative shocks is likely to most effective in preventing HIV transmission.