2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

negatively correlated with economic growth. This study showed that a 10% increase in HIV leads to a 0.14% decrease in GDP per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa (Waziri, 2015). This further displays the extent of how HIV can create financial limitations. This relationship between health and wealth creates a type of poverty cycle depicted in figure 6.

Figure 6. HIV/AIDS Poverty Cycle

(IGCSE, 2022)

HIV leads to a vicious, unbreakable cycle without outside intervention. Contracting HIV would lead to poor physical health, leading to problems with employment. Therefore, higher rates of unemployment lead to a lower GDP per capita, indicating lower income. This affects one’s ability to pay for necessity goods such as food and water while also maintaining necessary HIV treatment. This can result in very poor living conditions, subsequently putting someone more at risk of HIV. In severe circumstances, this may be caused by unsanitary living conditions which can

13