Working Paper: NBER ID: w22382
Authors: Kevin Croke; Joan Hamory Hicks; Eric Hsu; Michael Kremer; Ricardo Maertens; Edward Miguel; Witold Wicek
Abstract: The WHO recommends mass drug administration (MDA) for intestinal worm infections in areas with >20% infection prevalence. Recent Cochrane meta-analyses endorse treatment of infected individuals but recommend against MDA. We conducted a theory-agnostic random-effects meta-analysis of the effect of multiple-dose MDA and a cost-effectiveness analysis. We estimate significant effects of MDA on child weight (0.15 kg, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.24; p <0.001), mid-upper arm circumference (0.20 cm, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.37; p=0.02), and height (0.09 cm, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16; p=0.02) when prevalence is over 20%, but not on Hb (0.06 g/dl, 95% CI: -0.01, 0.14; p=0.1). These results suggest that MDA is a cost-effective intervention, particularly in the settings where it is recommended by the WHO.
Keywords: Deworming; Mass Drug Administration; Child Health; Cost-Effectiveness; Meta-Analysis
JEL Codes: C49; I15; I18; O15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| MDA (Y10) | child weight (J13) |
| MDA (Y10) | MUAC (J51) |
| MDA (Y10) | height (Y60) |
| MDA (Y10) | hemoglobin (Y60) |