Do risk, time and prosocial preferences predict risky sexual behaviour of youths in a low-income, high-risk setting?

Thomas, Ranjeeta ORCID: 0000-0002-0947-4574, Galizzi, Matteo M., Moorhouse, Louisa, Nyamukapa, Constance and Hallett, Timothy B. (2024) Do risk, time and prosocial preferences predict risky sexual behaviour of youths in a low-income, high-risk setting? Journal of Health Economics, 93. ISSN 0167-6296

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Abstract

Young people in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly at high risk of sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about their preferences and even less about their association with risky sexual behaviour. We conducted incentivized economic experiments to measure risk, time and prosocial preferences in Zimbabwe. Preferences measured at baseline predict biomarker and self-reported measures of risky sexual behaviour gathered 12 months later. We find robust evidence that individuals more altruistic at baseline are more likely to be Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) positive 12 months later. Analysis by sex shows this association is driven by our sample of women. Having more sexual partners is associated with greater risk tolerance amongst men and greater impatience amongst women. Results highlight heterogeneity in the association between preferences and risky sexual behaviour.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-h...
Additional Information:	© 2023 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Health Policy Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
JEL classification:	I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Production: Nutrition, Mortality, Morbidity, Suicide, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Disability, and Economic Behavior D - Microeconomics > D9 - Intertemporal Choice and Growth > D91 - Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
Date Deposited:	11 Dec 2023 10:15
Last Modified:	02 Jan 2024 09:45
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/121013

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