At last, schooling helps HIV/Aids fight
Education has reduced HIV/Aids infection rates in Africa
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Monday, 23, Mar 2009 12:25
Formal education is finally emerging as a preventive factor against new HIV/Aids infections in sub-Saharan Africa, US sociologists have claimed.
For too long, they argue, moderate education among young males equated to greater leisure time and more access to commercial sex workers, who spread the disease.
Recently, however, misperceptions about the urban and homosexual concentrations of the disease have been met by education campaigns.
The claims were the result of analysis of HIV infections in 11 sub-Saharan countries, which noted a link between lower rates of infection among those reaching sexual maturity after education improved.
"More educated people have the cognitive tools to make better sense out of facts presented to them," David Baker of Penn State University in the US said.
"We have shown that when there is sufficient information, and no misinformation, people with education adopt healthy strategies to avoid infections."
His co-author, John Collins, said both the donor community and governments in the region needed to fully appreciate the importance of expanding primary schools.
"It will not only have economic benefits, but also health benefits," he said.