The Effect of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic on Africa's Truck Drivers

The AIDS epidemic is having a growing impact on the transport sectorof the economy of sub-Saharan Africa, where long-distance truck driversare at an increased risk of infection due to their frequent contacts withcommercial sex workers. The spread of AIDS in the transport industry isespecially signif...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christopher M. Kribs-Zaleta, Melanie Lee, Christine Román, Shari Wiley, Carlos M. Hernández-Suárez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2005-09-01
Series:Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering
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Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/mbe.2005.2.771
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Summary:The AIDS epidemic is having a growing impact on the transport sectorof the economy of sub-Saharan Africa, where long-distance truck driversare at an increased risk of infection due to their frequent contacts withcommercial sex workers. The spread of AIDS in the transport industry isespecially significant to the economy, as truck drivers are largely responsiblefor transporting crops and supplies needed for daily subsistence. In thispaper we analyze these effects via two models, one employing a switch andthe other a Verhulst saturation function, to describe the rate at which newdrivers are recruited in terms of the supply and demand for them in thegeneral population. Results provide an estimate of the epidemic's economicimpact on the transportation sector through the loss of truck drivers(an estimated 10% per year, with endemic levels near 90%).
ISSN:1551-0018