Publication Title: Economic Development and Cultural Change

Pages: 665-684

Abstract: In this article we use the Marriage Transitions in Malawi (MTM) data set, a panel study of initially never married young women and men in central Malawi, to evaluate how, if at all, VCT influences behaviors of young people. The survey introduced a testing opportunity for a random set of respondents during the second year of the three-year panel. We examine behaviors closely linked with the transition to adulthood and HIV risk. In particular, we estimate the intent-to-treat effect of the VCT intervention on school attendance, marriage, fertility, and reported sexual behavior in the year after the test.