This paper uses life history theory to examine the relationship between mortality and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors in the developing world. The data come primarily from aggregate Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 54 countries. Life history theory predicts that increased extrinsic mortality will lead to higher engagement in HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. To test this prediction, I examine the relationship between two measures of mortality (death rate, and life expectancy at birth excluding deaths from HIV/AIDS) and several measures of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors (ages at first sex and marriage, total fertility rate, ideal number of children, and age-specific cumulative fertility and desire for more children). Multivariate regression analysis is used to control for potential confounding variables. The results generally support the predictions, with stronger support for females than for males.



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Last modified: 01-22-08
by Kermyt G. Anderson