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The sins of the church: The long-term impacts of Christian missionary praxis on HIV and sexual behaviour in Zambia

Chanda Chiseni, Michael LU (2023) In Economic History of Developing Regions
Abstract
This study examines the long-term effect of Christian missionary exposure on HIV infection and related sexual behaviour in Zambia. I use distance to a historical missionary church and health facility as proxies for missionary exposure. I constructed a geocoded data set combining information on the historical locations of churches and missionary health centres with contemporary individual-level data. I find that individuals who live close to a historical missionary church have a higher likelihood of being infected with HIV. I find no significant effect of proximity to a missionary health centre on HIV. Considering that heterosexual transmission is the main channel of HIV transmission in Zambia, I analyse the effect of missionary exposure on... (More)
This study examines the long-term effect of Christian missionary exposure on HIV infection and related sexual behaviour in Zambia. I use distance to a historical missionary church and health facility as proxies for missionary exposure. I constructed a geocoded data set combining information on the historical locations of churches and missionary health centres with contemporary individual-level data. I find that individuals who live close to a historical missionary church have a higher likelihood of being infected with HIV. I find no significant effect of proximity to a missionary health centre on HIV. Considering that heterosexual transmission is the main channel of HIV transmission in Zambia, I analyse the effect of missionary exposure on sexual behaviour. The following patterns emerge: individuals who live close to a Protestant church are less likely to engage in premarital sexual abstinence; they also have their first sexual encounter at an earlier age, with the effect being stronger for men than women. Living near a Catholic church is associated with having a higher number of sexual partners. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Zambia, Christian missionary exposure, HIV, sexual behaviour, N01, I1, Z12, N97
in
Economic History of Developing Regions
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85171256071
ISSN
2078-0397
DOI
10.1080/20780389.2023.2243036
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
017b0ff7-8b47-42b4-8a1a-40a6d2df76d4
date added to LUP
2023-11-14 17:25:08
date last changed
2023-11-15 10:37:56
@article{017b0ff7-8b47-42b4-8a1a-40a6d2df76d4,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the long-term effect of Christian missionary exposure on HIV infection and related sexual behaviour in Zambia. I use distance to a historical missionary church and health facility as proxies for missionary exposure. I constructed a geocoded data set combining information on the historical locations of churches and missionary health centres with contemporary individual-level data. I find that individuals who live close to a historical missionary church have a higher likelihood of being infected with HIV. I find no significant effect of proximity to a missionary health centre on HIV. Considering that heterosexual transmission is the main channel of HIV transmission in Zambia, I analyse the effect of missionary exposure on sexual behaviour. The following patterns emerge: individuals who live close to a Protestant church are less likely to engage in premarital sexual abstinence; they also have their first sexual encounter at an earlier age, with the effect being stronger for men than women. Living near a Catholic church is associated with having a higher number of sexual partners.}},
  author       = {{Chanda Chiseni, Michael}},
  issn         = {{2078-0397}},
  keywords     = {{Zambia; Christian missionary exposure; HIV; sexual behaviour; N01; I1; Z12; N97}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Economic History of Developing Regions}},
  title        = {{The sins of the church: The long-term impacts of Christian missionary praxis on HIV and sexual behaviour in Zambia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20780389.2023.2243036}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/20780389.2023.2243036}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}