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The Role of a Microfinance Program on HIV Risk Behavior Among Haitian Women

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Abstract

Microfinance loans targeted at vulnerable female populations have the potential to foster female economic independence, possibly leading to the negotiation of safer sexual practices and reduced HIV risk. This study assessed the relationship between experience with microfinance loans and HIV risk behavior among 192 female clients of the Haitian microfinance organization Fonkoze. Clients with longer microfinance experience were generally found to have lower indicators of HIV risk behavior and higher indicators of relationship power compared to those with shorter experience. In particular, those with longer memberships were 72% less likely to report partner infidelity, were 3.95 times more likely to use condoms with an unfaithful partner, and had higher average general power index scores compared to those with shorter experience. This study provides evidence that long-term exposure to microfinance is associated with reduced HIV risk behavior in Haitian women and that this reduction may be partly regulated by influencing relationship power. These results suggest the need to further explore the use of microfinance as a tool to prevent the spread of HIV.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Downs Fellowship generously granted by the Yale Committee on International Health. The authors would like to thank the Fonkoze staff at the Port-au-Prince and Limbe offices for their dedication and guidance in this project and Dr. Linda Niccolai for her helpful feedback on early drafts of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St., New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Molly S. Rosenberg & Brian K. Seavey

  2. Department of Social Impact, Fonkoze, Limbe, Haiti

    Reginal Jules

  3. School of Public Health and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Trace S. Kershaw

Authors
  1. Molly S. Rosenberg
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  2. Brian K. Seavey
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  3. Reginal Jules
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  4. Trace S. Kershaw
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Correspondence to Molly S. Rosenberg.

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Rosenberg, M.S., Seavey, B.K., Jules, R. et al. The Role of a Microfinance Program on HIV Risk Behavior Among Haitian Women. AIDS Behav 15, 911–918 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-010-9860-3

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