A lifetime portfolio of risky and risk-free sexual behaviour and the prevalence of AIDS.
A lifetime portfolio of risky and risk-free sexual activities is conceptually constructed in this paper. People's time allocation between risky and risk-free sexual activities affects, and is affected by, the prevalence of AIDS. A small satisfaction differential between risky and risk-free sex can lead to a significant prevalence of AIDS. Numerical simulations suggest that the reduction in the prevalence of AIDS generated by a 1% improvement in the sensual quality of freely distributed condoms can be 0.855% when the initial satisfaction differential between risky and risk-free sex is 50% or 0.464% when the initial satisfaction differential is 100%.
Levy
Amnon
A
Department of Economics, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. amnon_levy@uow.edu.au
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009042:Motivation; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control