Abstract
Estimating and determining the economic burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on productivity is critical especially on the primary livelihood of any fishing community. If these communities are adversely affected by HIV and AIDS, the aggregate supply of fish may be adversely affected in real absolute numbers. It is in this reference that this study sought not only to identify factors affecting fish productivity but also to investigate the economic burden of HIV and AIDS in Lake Turkana County. To achieve this objective, the study collected primary data through structured questionnaires in the sampled areas of Namukuse and Kalokol sub-locations in Turkana County. Since HIV and AIDS is endogenous in the production model, the study applied Two Stage Least Square (2SLS) regression modeling technique to estimate the economic burden of HIV and AIDS on fish production. The findings showed that both HIV and AIDS, and the number of fishing nets significantly influence fish productivity in Lake Turkana while other diseases and age were also found to be significant determinants of fish production. Based on the study results, the study recommends that the national government and county government accelerate HIV/AIDS education among the finishing community and also fast track implementation of appropriate prevention measures such as use early diagnosis and treatment and use of PrEP given that the finishing community can be classified among the high-risk population groups.
Highlights
InformationAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
This is demonstrated by the fact that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS at least from the literature is expected to have a negative effect on the overall fish production output while at same time, fish production output, whether reduced or increased, would influence the amount of income among the fishermen, which has an overall effect on the HIV and AIDS prevalence
This is the measure of the economic burden of HIV and AIDS on fish production
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Poor health can destabilize households’ livelihoods through loss of labour and earnings. According to Canning health is an important form of human capital that can enhance worker’s productivity by increasing their physical capacities as well as their mental capacities [2]. Further Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere showed that production is affected in a greater way upon the death of an adult household member [3]. This is because his or her contribution to agricultural production and income is lost permanently. Other studies link high HIV prevalence to food insecurity because the pandemic affects the ability of a household to produce food due to illness or death as a result of the scourge [4,5]
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