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School-based malaria chemoprevention as a cost-effective approach to improve cognitive and educational outcomes: a meta-analysis

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  • Noam Angrist
  • Matthew C. H. Jukes
  • Sian Clarke
  • R. Matthew Chico
  • Charles Opondo
  • Donald Bundy
  • Lauren M. Cohee

Abstract

There is limited evidence of health interventions impact on cognitive function and educational outcomes. We build on two prior systematic reviews to conduct a meta-analysis, exploring the effects of one of the most consequential health interventions, malaria chemoprevention, on education outcomes. We pool data from nine study treatment groups (N=4,075) and outcomes across four countries. We find evidence of a positive effect (Cohen's d = 0.12, 95% CI [0.08, 0.16]) on student cognitive function, achieved at low cost. These results show that malaria chemoprevention can be highly cost effective in improving some cognitive skills, such as sustained attention. Moreover, we conduct simulations using a new common metric (learning-adjusted years of development) to compare cost-effectiveness across diverse interventions. While we might expect that traditional education interventions provide an immediate learning gain, health interventions such as malaria prevention can have surprisingly cost-effective education benefits, enabling children to achieve their full human capital potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Noam Angrist & Matthew C. H. Jukes & Sian Clarke & R. Matthew Chico & Charles Opondo & Donald Bundy & Lauren M. Cohee, 2023. "School-based malaria chemoprevention as a cost-effective approach to improve cognitive and educational outcomes: a meta-analysis," Papers 2303.10684, arXiv.org.
  • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2303.10684
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Cirera, Laia & Castelló, Judit Vall & Brew, Joe & Saúte, Francisco & Sicuri, Elisa, 2022. "The impact of a malaria elimination initiative on school outcomes: Evidence from Southern Mozambique," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    3. Siân Clarke & Saba Rouhani & Seybou Diarra & Renion Saye & Modibo Bamadio & Rebecca Jones & Diahara Traore & Klenon Traore & Matthew Jukes & Josselin Thuilliez & Simon Brooker & Natalie Roschnik & Mou, 2017. "Impact of a malaria intervention package in schools on Plasmodium infection, anaemia and cognitive function in schoolchildren in Mali: a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial," Post-Print halshs-01674689, HAL.
    4. Bertha Nhlema Simwaka & Kisukyabo Simwaka & George Bello, 2009. "Retrospective analysis of a school-based malaria treatment programme demonstrates a positive impact on health and education outcomes in Mangochi district, Malawi," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(4), pages 492-506.
    5. Jessica Cohen & Pascaline Dupas, 2010. "Free Distribution or Cost-Sharing? Evidence from a Randomized Malaria Prevention Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 125(1), pages 1-45.
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