Does education encourage the ABCs: Abstain, be faithful and condomize? A study of determinants of HIV/AIDS infections among Cape Town youth from 2002-2006

HIV/AIDS infections continue to increase, especially among youth in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa's national HIV/AIDS prevention strategy targets youth to encourage behavior change, particularly through the school system. This motivates the question of this analysis: "Does education affect risky sexual behavior among youth?" The Cape Area Panel Study surveyed 4800 Cape Town youth ages 14-22 from 2002-2006 and included questions regarding their sexual behavior and attitudes. Risky sexual behavior is measured through condom usage, number of sexual partners and age of first sexual intercourse. This study finds education is only significant in increasing age of first sex and promoting condom usage, although by very small magnitudes. Education had no effect on the number of sexual partners. Magisterial districts and being African were found to be statistically significant in behavior change in condom usage and have large magnitudes. Given these results, the South African government can consider the importance of targeting HIV/AIDS prevention information to specific districts and population groups.