The effect of HIV/AIDS on primary school enrollment in Kenya

Abstract

The fact that HIV / AIDS, has been recognized as a human tragedy and a major health problem, which calls for urgent attention, need not be overemphasized. The scale of the disease is so large that it raises questions about its impact on the future development path of most developing countries, majority of which are in Africa. The scourge has caused untold suffering to many households and ruined lives of many young and dynamic Kenyans. The disease is caused by HIV, which acts by weakening the immune system, making the human body susceptible to other diseases. It is contracted mostly through heterosexual contact. Infected people become progressively sick and weak; they steadily lose their ability to work. Eventually, the disease kills them in their prime, thereby destroying the human capital build up in them over the years through child-rearing, formal education and learning on the job. It has affects people physically, spiritually and emotionally. As a result, many children drop out of school either due to lack of household income after the death of the breadwinner, or take care of sick parents or relatives suffering from HIV / AIDS, among others. This sad situation justifies the need to carry out tills study. The study investigates the effect of HIV / AIDS on enrollment in primary education. It employs OLS and 2SLS methods to estimate a school enrollment model. The empirical findings suggest that HIV /AIDS has a negative effect on primary school enrollment. The results indicate that: a 10% increase in the population with HIV / AIDS is associated with a 2.9% decline in primary school enrollment. Gender is not identified as a significant factor in school enrollment analysis even though being female infected of HIV / AIDS reduces enrollment. Other variables found to significantly affect enrollment negatively are primary school fees and the under-five mortality rate while school age population and household wealth affect enrollment positively.