Gender Differences in the Link between Educational Attainment and HIV Risk

Sanyu A. Mojola, University of Chicago

This paper examines gender differences in the relationship between educational attainment and HIV status across the life course. In particular, I test the thesis that educational attainment in a country with an advanced HIV epidemic is significantly associated with lower HIV risk. Using the most recent Kenya Demographic and Health Survey which included HIV testing, I first compare the relationship between educational attainment and HIV status among men and women, and then compare results between those aged below 30 – most likely to have been exposed to HIV/AIDS information in schools and early adulthood, and those aged above 30. I then test 5 hypotheses to tease apart the mechanisms through which educational attainment might work to increase or reduce HIV risk, and how these mechanisms might differ by gender. I conclude with broader implications these findings might have for literature examining how education might affect health disparities in other countries.