| Publication |
2010.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Slightly over 25 years since the identification of the virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic has killed millions of people and has expanded to become one of the greatest dangers in the world, threatening individuals, economies, communities and states. To better understand the factors underlying the wide discrepancies in HIV rates across countries, and to better prioritize interventions in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, it is imperative to build sound models that help to identify determinants of worldwide HIV prevalence. While scholars of various disciplines such as political science, anthropology and health studies have engaged in this endeavor, these studies have found divergent results. Seeking to construct a viable model, this current study examines nine theory-informed variables - income inequality, regime type, gender equality, GDP per capita (PPP), control of corruption, per cent Muslims in a country, education, contraceptive use and availability of antiretroviral medication that potentially affect a state's HIV prevalence. This research finds that conditions favorable to a decrease in HIV are low income inequality, a high per cent of Muslims in a country's population and high contraceptive use.
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