Educational access and HIV prevention: Making the case for education as a health priority in sub-Saharan Africa

There is much evidence showing an association between sexual behavior and both attendance and attainment. Experimental evidence that school attendance leads to safer sexual behavior is currently under review. Studies suggest several pathways through which sexual behavior, and consequently the risk of HIV infection, may be influenced by schooling. Students attending school have a smaller sexual network and a stronger motivation to avoid the consequences of unprotected sex - both pregnancy and HIV infection - than their out-of-school peers.