Statistics and stories: experimental evidence on HIV testing in Ghana

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985998%3A_____%2F25%3A00643336" target="_blank" >RIV/67985998:_____/25:00643336 - isvavai.cz</a>

Nalezeny alternativní kódy

RIV/00216208:11640/25:00643337

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://www.cerge-ei.cz/pdf/wp/Wp805.pdf" target="_blank" >https://www.cerge-ei.cz/pdf/wp/Wp805.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Statistics and stories: experimental evidence on HIV testing in Ghana

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Understanding what drives people to get tested for HIV is essential for designing effective communication strategies that promote test uptake. In this study, I use a randomized experiment to examine whether and how the format of information affects HIV testing behavior among university students in Ghana. Providing factual information on HIV incidence and the availability of nearby testing services increased actual testing rates by about 1 percentage point from a near-zero baseline. In contrast, adding a story about the testing experience to this statistical information did not generate any additional effect. Financial incentives, introduced non-randomly, raised testing rates to 11 percent. Interestingly, the impact of the original information treatments diminished when a financial incentive became available. Analysis of belief outcomes indicates that the information treatment primarily worked by increasing awareness of local testing services and correcting misperceptions about peer testing behavior, rather than by heightening perceived risk. However, stories did not enhance the treatment effect on beliefs or information recall beyond the impact of simple statistical facts. These results suggest that factual information can effectively address informational barriers to HIV testing in this context, while narrative elements offer no measurable added benefit for influencing this high stakes health behavior.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Statistics and stories: experimental evidence on HIV testing in Ghana

Popis výsledku anglicky

Understanding what drives people to get tested for HIV is essential for designing effective communication strategies that promote test uptake. In this study, I use a randomized experiment to examine whether and how the format of information affects HIV testing behavior among university students in Ghana. Providing factual information on HIV incidence and the availability of nearby testing services increased actual testing rates by about 1 percentage point from a near-zero baseline. In contrast, adding a story about the testing experience to this statistical information did not generate any additional effect. Financial incentives, introduced non-randomly, raised testing rates to 11 percent. Interestingly, the impact of the original information treatments diminished when a financial incentive became available. Analysis of belief outcomes indicates that the information treatment primarily worked by increasing awareness of local testing services and correcting misperceptions about peer testing behavior, rather than by heightening perceived risk. However, stories did not enhance the treatment effect on beliefs or information recall beyond the impact of simple statistical facts. These results suggest that factual information can effectively address informational barriers to HIV testing in this context, while narrative elements offer no measurable added benefit for influencing this high stakes health behavior.

Druh

O - Ostatní výsledky

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

50202 - Applied Economics, Econometrics

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/LX22NPO5101" target="_blank" >LX22NPO5101: Národní institut pro výzkum socioekonomických dopadů nemocí a systémových rizik</a><br>

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů