The goals of this proposed pilot are both substantive and methodological. Substantively, we wish to: One, test the hypothesis that HIV-negative individuals living in a community of high HIV-AIDS prevalence have a greater risk of contracting the disease if their high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) is elevated > 3.0mg/L. CRP is a very strong acute-phase protein. During the acute phase of a disease or infection, CRP concentrations rise dramatically. High levels of CRP are also associated with chronic diseases.

HIV-related stigma has been touted as a barrier to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. While various survey instruments and stigma scales have been developed to measure HIV-related stigma in the general population and among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), there is no consensus among researchers as to how best to measure stigma or how stigma translates to actual financial discrimination. Also, attitudes expressed in surveys may not represent real behavior.

The primary aim of the study is to apply existing and develop new models of intergenerational and inter vivos transfers to explain the motivation for such transfers in a high-HIV prevalence country (Malawi) and to investigate whether transfers differ by households that are and are not affected by AIDS.