IMG_3517 posted originally by dincordero
It turns out that Emily Oster might be more right than she knows. As mentioned in a previous post, her research shows that using morality to understand the problem of AIDS in Africa may be less useful than looking at the epidemiology (the medical factors) of the problem.
A recent study of malaria shows a correlation that might explain why AIDS is more prevalent in African nations. Having malaria (as is more common in Africa) leads to an increased likelihood of contracting HIV and dying of AIDS.
This makes some sense as the parasite in malaria attacks red blood cells. People who survive it tend to have sickle-cell anemia (which means they are born with red blood cells that are not correctly formed, making it harder for the malaria to attack the red cells). I guess either the condition of sickle cell anemia or the transmission by mosquitoes or both has something to do with the increased spread of HIV in these regions.
