Do risk, time and prosocial preferences predict risky sexual behaviour of youths in a low-income, high-risk setting?
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Thomas, Ranjeeta
Galizzi, Matteo M
Moorhouse, Louisa
Nyamukapa, Constance
Hallett, Timothy B
Type
Journal Article
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.
Date Issued
2024-01-01
Date Acceptance
2023-12-10
Citation
Journal of Health Economics, 2024, 93, pp.102845-102845
ISSN
0167-6296
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
102845
End Page
102845
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Health Economics
Volume
93
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38103348
PII: S0167-6296(23)00122-4
Subjects
Adolescent
Female
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Poverty
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Altruism
Risk preference
Risky sexual behaviour
Social proximity
Time preference
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Netherlands
Article Number
ARTN 102845
Date Publish Online
2023-12-11