Working Paper: NBER ID: w28621
Authors: Onur Altindag; Jane Greve; Erdal Tekin
Abstract: We evaluate the impact of a nationwide public health intervention on deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), using population data from Denmark in a regression discontinuity research design. The information campaign–implemented primarily through a universal nurse home visiting program–reduced infant mortality by 17.2 percent and saved between 11.6-13.5 lives over 10,000 births. The estimated effect sizes are 11-14 times larger among low birthweight and preterm infants relative to the overall population. Improvement in infant mortality is concentrated among those with low socio-economic status and with limited access to health information, thereby reducing health inequities at birth.
Keywords: infant mortality; public health; information campaign; Denmark; sudden infant death syndrome
JEL Codes: I12; I18; I24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Public health information campaign (I19) | Infant mortality (J13) |
| Public health information campaign (I19) | Infant mortality for low birthweight and preterm infants (J13) |
| Public health information campaign (I19) | Infant mortality for infants from low socioeconomic backgrounds (I14) |
| Public health information campaign (I19) | Infant mortality for infants from immigrant or lower-educated mothers (J11) |