Does Gender Inequality Within a Country Increase the Burden of HIV on Females?

This paper evaluates the claim that the persistent burden of HIV/AIDS on females in developing countries is caused by gender inequality within those countries using OLS regression. Previous economic literature explores behavioural change in the face of HIV/AIDS, and how gender inequality may hinder the ability of females to decrease their risk. This paper deviates from previous work through both the variables used and the analysis provided, with the most lasting contribution likely being the use and analysis of the “Social Institutions & Gender Index” (SIGI) as a measure of gender inequality, particularly for low-development regions. The SIGI uniquely captures country-specific factors that should directly impact a woman’s “intra-household bargaining power”: a potential mechanism for a causal relationship between gender inequality and the HIV/AIDS burden on females. The results of this study not only provide support for the use of the SIGI as a measure of bargaining power, but also evidence that gender inequality is contributing to HIV/AIDS in female populations in some regions