Household Mortality Analysis: HIV/AIDS and Non-HIV/AIDS-Related Deaths in Mozambique, 2002-2007

Anjali D. Oza, University of Chicago
Damien de Walque, World Bank Group
Harounan Kazianga, Oklahoma State University
Mead Over, World Bank Group

In response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the government of Mozambique has scaled up access to anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS since 2004. Using household survey data, we evaluate the impact of increased access to ARVs on AIDS-related household mortality and investigate trends in mortality by age, gender, and socioeconomic status during 2002-2007. We find a decline in AIDS-related mortality starting in 2005, corresponding to the scaling up of ARV treatment. Households including an HIV patient are more likely to have sold assets to face expenses linked to a death in the household and are more likely to have lower funeral expenses. Comparing child deaths diagnosed by a professional as AIDS-related to those in a household with an HIV patient, we find a large increase in AIDS-related deaths in younger age cohorts using the later criterion. This raises concern that children are not brought to health professionals for HIV/AIDS diagnosis or treatment.