Impact of Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome on Farm Households

Abstract

Problem statement: The impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa cut across all sectors of human development and it poses serious challenge to the survival of several vulnerable poor, whose livelihood depends solely on agriculture. This study is an attempt to contribute to the understanding of HIV/AIDS by investigating household vulnerablity and its impact on production variability in farm households. Approach: A total of 110 households were involved inthe study split into households with and without infection. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and the estimation of the stochastic frontier model. Results: The vulnerability factors showed that 10.12% of the households were vulnerable to HIV. The important indices of vulnerability include non-use of condoms and having multiple sex partners. Farm size, labour and education were significant and positive determinants of productivity variability in both households. Access to credit had a positive effect on productivity in households with infection and impacted negatively on households without infection. Conclusion: Households with infection were grossly inefficient compared to households without infection. The mean economic efficiency in households with infection is 49% against 79% in households without infection. The policy outcome of the study is to equip Primary Health Centre’s (PHC) and re-structural extension services to be more goal-driven.