Impact of HIV/ AIDS on Economic Growth and Development in Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of HIV/AIDS on economic growth and development in Nigeria using primary and time series data. It also looked at the effect of the epidemic on savings and standard of living. To obtain the primary data, a total of 360 respondents comprising 180 persons infected with HIV/AIDS and 180 uninfected persons were selected using stratified sampling technique. The primary data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and chi-square test. In analyzing the time series data, a Solow-type growth model is extended to incorporate some of the macroeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS. Using this model, cointegration and error correction modeling techniques were adopted to examine the relationship between the variables. The findings show that HIV/AIDS prevalence is widely spreading and rapidly rising and has a negative impact on Real GDP growth in Nigeria. Also, recurrent health expenditure does not appear to be growth augmenting during the period HIV/AIDS was also found to adversely affect savings and standard of living of infected persons. Education of especially rural people on HIV/AIDS, voluntary HIV test before marriage, expansion of Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARD) distribution, and poverty reduction polices have been recommended.